HC directs district collector to intervene in controlling crowd at Sabarimala, asks if darshan time can be extended

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Kerala High Court has directed the district collector of Pathanamthitta to intervene in controlling the crowd at Sabarimala. The court also asked if the darshan time can be extended by one hour during peak hours. The Devaswom Board replied to inform after holding talks with the tantri.

The high court directed that there should be police patrolling from Nilakkal to Laha. The court also directed that the traffic should be made strict after the parking limit is exceeded. Meantime, the police demanded to reduce the virtual queue booking and limit the entry to 85,000 people.

The restrictions at Sabarimala went out of control yesterday due to the rush of pilgrims. People, including small children, who suffered physical discomfort due to the rush, were admitted to hospitals. The Valiyanadpanthal was crowded for two days. The daily number of pilgrims reached above one lakh.

Restrictions had to be imposed on all major centers yesterday. The 10-hectare parking lot at Nilakkal was full early yesterday morning. Vehicles were parked in rubber plantations and on the sides of the road, blocking traffic. The vehicles were stopped at various parts of the pilgrimage route then. There was a long traffic jam of six to eight kilometers in most places.