Rain causes slight disruptions to Sabarimala pilgrimage in Kerala
Pilgrims travelling from Nilackal were temporarily stopped following reports of a landslip at Attathodu, while those arriving through Erumely also faced entry curbs
Heavy rain and landslides led to minor disruptions in the Sabarimala pilgrimage on Monday, prompting authorities to impose temporary restrictions for devotees heading to the hill temple for the Nira Puthari festival. Pilgrims traveling from Nilackal faced temporary roadblocks at Attathodu, while those arriving via Erumely encountered entry curbs due to landslides.
The downpour, which began on Sunday evening and persisted overnight, eased intermittently during the afternoon but resumed later in the day. The continuous rainfall caused the Pampa river to overflow, prompting officials to prohibit bathing in the river for safety reasons. Falling trees and branches damaged sections of the Swami Ayyappan Road, and power lines snapped at various points.
The Forest department and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) swiftly cleared the fallen trees and restored access to the route. Despite the hazardous conditions, no injuries were reported, and pilgrims who reached Nilackal on Sunday evening were permitted to resume their journey to the temple in the early hours of Monday. Officials emphasized that the restrictions were crucial in preventing accidents.
While the rain subsided somewhat in the forest region on Monday, officials cautioned that the risk from weakened trees and unstable terrain remained. Pilgrims who eventually reached Sannidhanam reported that the trek to the temple proceeded smoothly, and darshan arrangements were well managed, despite the challenging weather conditions.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
