Staying in Forest, Bathing in River, & Still No Glance of Lord Ayyappa? Sad Scenes Amid Sabarimala Rush – News18

Even as Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that the situation at Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala was under control, local reports stated that devotees have to wait for at least 18 hours to reach the shrine, and till then they are staying in nearby forest areas and bathing in river.

According to a report in Dinamalar, a national Tamil daily, the devotees have suffering in the forest for the last few weeks. They wait for hours without knowing when the bus will leave.

The report stated that people are then forced to take bath in Pambai river, where one has to stand in queue for several hours again. Dinamalar mentioned that there are no canopies or tents for people in this area.

After climbing the hill, devotees are made to wait in a “barren shed, built in the name of Marakutam Q Complex”. Here you have to wait at least four hours. Thus, devotees are able to visit ‘Ayyappan’ after “being confined like prisoners in sheds for 12-18 hours”, the publication wrote.

Further elaborating on the situation, the report goes on to say that even if the devotees climb the 18 steps and reach the Srikovil flyover to form a queue, ‘Ayyapans‘ are pulled away by the police even before a proper glance of the deity.

Dinamalar mentioned that the number of devotees who wait for 18 hours and are yet not able to pray properly is high this pilgrimage season.

The report stated that the reason for overcrowding is mainly unregistered visitors. Besides the online booking, an additional of 50,000 people are allowed. Here are other reason for massive footfall at Sabarimala.

Meanwhile, CM Vijayan said that considering the rush this season, the darshan timing has been extended by one hour. There is no uncontrolled situation prevailing in Sabarimala, he said, adding that all government agencies are intervening in matters related to the shrine with the utmost caution.

Adding to Kerala CM’s Woes, Death Reported at Sabarimala

The death of a Sabarimala pilgrim was reported from the Pullumedu forest route on Wednesday. Police said the pilgrim collapsed while heading to the shrine through the traditional forest route. A police team has been sent to shift the body to the hospital, they said.

This comes after the death of a 12-year-old girl at Sabarimala on Saturday. Padmashri of Tamil Nadu collapsed at the Appachimedu stretch of the hill temple.

According to a report in Online Manorama, the group, of which Padmashri was a part, started ascending the hill around noon. When they reached Appachimedu, she fell ill and collapsed. Though Padmashri was rushed to a hospital there, she could not be saved. The report quoted police sources as indicating that the child had heart problems earlier.

Vande Bharat Special to Clear Sabarimala Rush

The Southern Railway on Wednesday announced operating a Vande Bharat service between Chennai and Kottayam to clear the rush of passengers during the ongoing Sabarimala season.

Train No 06151 Dr MGR Chennai CentralKottayam Vande Bharat Sabari bi-weekly Special will leave from from Chennai at 04.30 hrs on Dec 15, 17, 22 and 24. It will reach Kottayam at 16.15 hrs, the same day, an official release said.

In return direction, train No. 06152 Kottayam Dr MGR Chennai Central Vande Bharat Sabari Bi-Weekly Special will leave the Kerala town at 04.40 hrs on December 16, 18, 23 and 25 and arrive in Chennai at 17.15 hrs the same day, it added. It will stop at stations including Katpadi, Salem, Palakkad and Aluva.