PATHANAMTHITTA: Two young women reached Nilakkal on Monday with the intension to climb Sabarimala, but they returned following the intervention of the police.

Two Telangana native women reached Nilakkal in a KSRTC bus along with other devotees.

The police convinced the women of the chances for trouble as it is Makavilakku festival. Finally, they decided to drop their darshan plan for the time being and informed the police that they were returning to their home town.

On a tip-off, the police searched buses and found out the women and they were taken to the control room. Quoting the women, the police said that their intention was only to go till Pamba.

Meanwhile, Sabarimala witnessed heavy rush since Sunday on account of Makaravilakku festival.

At 5 in the evening, chief priest V N Vasudevan Namboodhiri opened the temple door. Darshan time started after he climbed down the 18 steps and lighted ‘azhi’.

The heavy rush is continuing today (Monday) also. At Pamba, Ayappa devotees are allowed only through checkpoints. Prohibitory has been extended till January 5 in Sabarimala to pre-empt any untoward incident.