A stampede was averted at Sabarimala with much effort around 9.40 p.m. on Monday as a police barricade gave in the surge of pilgrims entering Lower Tirumuttom from Valiyanadappanthal.
The Rapid Action Force, the National Disaster Response Force and the police, along with the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom and the Devaswom staff, pulled together to avert a tragedy. A few pilgrims were injured.
The rush of pilgrims who reached the Sannidhanam from the northern side of Lower Tirumuttom, crossing the Bailey Bridge, became uncontrollable and after 15 anxious minutes, the Central forces could restore order.
With the countdown for Mandalapuja on, the rush became so heavy that the police have been blocking the flow of pilgrims from Pampa periodically from Sunday night. The space between the U-turn on the Saramkuthi path and Valiyanadappanthal has turned a danger spot since Monday afternoon. The Rapid Action Force and the National Disaster Response Force have been controlling the crowd along this risky and difficult stretch.
Vehicular traffic on the main trunk road leading to Pampa has gone up beyond imagination and the police had to block the vehicles at definite intervals at Plappally and Nilackal.
Almost all the parking lots at the main base camp at Nilackal are full and the pilgrims are parking their vehicles on the wayside.
Long wait
Pilgrims had to wait for hours together inside the crowded zigzag barricades to reach the Sannidhanam. Many pilgrims told The Hindu that it had taken 15-16 hours for them to reach the Ayyappa temple
. They could move only at a slow pace on the trekking path, especially between Sabaripeedhom and the Sannidhanam.
M.P. Govindan Nair, President, Travancore Devaswom Board , and K. Babu, Special Commissioner appointed by Kerala High Court, are camping at the Sannidhanam.
Devaswom Minister V.S. Sivakumar and Chief Co-ordinator K. Jayakumar will reach the Sannidhanam on Tuesday.
Mandalapuja
The ceremonial procession carrying Thanka Anki (golden attire) of the presiding deity will reach Pampa on Tuesday forenoon and from there to the Sannidhanam later in the afternoon.
The idol will be decorated with it prior to Deeparadhana. Mandalapuja will be held at 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The idol will be adorned with the attire prior to Mandalapuja.
The temple will be closed after Athazhapuja on Wednesday, marking the culmination of Mandalapuja, and will reopen for the Makaravilakku festival on December 30.