KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday asked the DGP to monitor the rush in Sabarimala carefully and limit the number of devotees coming to the temple to 90,000 per day (80,000 through virtual queue booking and 10,000 through spot booking). The division bench comprising Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice G Girish gave the instructions based on the Special Commissioner's report.

The police should ensure that those who do not have a booking are not allowed to pass from Pampa to Sannidhanam. If pilgrims are being restricted at Sannidhanam and Pampa, it should be announced at Erumely and Nilakkal. When restrictions are imposed on Sabarimala, people should be informed about it through print and visual media. Spot booking and virtual queue booking should be reviewed daily. If there is a reduction in virtual queue bookings, then more pilgrims can be allowed to get darshan through spot bookings. Pilgrims returning after darshan should be shifted from Pampa. For this purpose, vacant buses from Nilakkal should be brought to Pampa, the court said. A devotee named Sasikumar had filed a complaint through e-mail to the Registrar General of the High Court pointing out the problems related to the rush in Sabarimala. The court will hear the plea again today.

Toilet block should be cleaned

• Staff and volunteers must wear ID cards
• Police should inform the Executive Magistrate about lapses
• If the number of pilgrims crosses 80,000, more parking should be allowed on the hilltop
• Queue complexes and toilet blocks should be cleaned throughout the day. Adequate staff should be appointed for this purpose
• Pilgrims stranded on the way due to restrictions should be provided with drinking water and biscuits
• The Devaswom Board should make the necessary arrangements for this
• The number of mobile squads should be doubled in Nilakkal-Kanamala and Nilakkal-Laha sectors
• Parking facilities should be arranged at the stopovers

701 policemen in three shifts

• 701 policemen have been deployed in three shifts in the Nilakkal-Kanamala sector
• Three DySPs under SP-ranked Special Police Officer
• 419 policemen in three shifts in the Erumely sector
• 843 policemen in two shifts in Pampa
• There are seven DySPs here under the leadership of an IPS officer