To ensure the safety of devotees flocking to Sabarimala to witness the celestial light, Makarajyothi, authorities have implemented extensive arrangements.
Pathanamthitta District Collector S. Premkrishnan has announced strict limits on the number of devotees allowed at key viewpoints. Panjippara and Ilavunkal will each accommodate up to 1,000 pilgrims, while Nellimala is capped at 800. Attathode West will host 300 devotees, and Attathode East can manage up to 2,500. The Pampa Hilltop, the largest viewing area, will hold 8,000 devotees. For safety reasons, entry to the Ayyanmala viewpoint has been prohibited.
Each location will have medical support teams on standby, complemented by adequate parking facilities. As the festival concludes, 300 KSRTC buses will ferry devotees from Pampa to Nilackal, ensuring a smooth departure. To manage the anticipated influx, the area has been divided into 13 zones, with police personnel deployed in each.
The Pathanamthitta District Medical Office has established a control room operating from Monday for the next 72 hours to coordinate health services. Devotees can reach the control room at 0468-2222642 and 0468-2228220. An additional fleet of 12 ambulances has been arranged, supplementing the existing 25. Along the pilgrim routes, 17 emergency medical centres have been set up between Pampa and the Sannidhanam, with four centres along the forest route via Karimala.
Surveillance cameras
To bolster security, the Travancore Devaswom Board Vigilance has installed 245 advanced surveillance cameras from Marakkootam to the Sannidhanam.
State Police Chief Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, who visited Sabarimala on Saturday to review the security arrangements, said 5,000 police personnel would ensure safety and order during the Makaravilakku festival on Tuesday. Among them, 1,800 officers will be stationed at the Sannidhanam, besides 800 at Pampa, 700 at Nilackal, 1,050 in Idukki, and 650 in Kottayam.
A special scheme has also been implemented for the sacred procession of the holy jewels (Thiruvabharanam) from Pandalam. This involves 1,440 personnel, including one Superintendent of Police (SP), 12 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs), and 31 Circle Inspectors.
Exit plan
”An exit plan too has been devised to ensure the smooth movement of devotees descending the hillock after the Makaravilakku. In anticipation of potential crowd surges, specific measures have been put in place to manage the flow of pilgrims effectively,’’ informed the official.
Meanwhile, devotees have already started camping at different locations on the hillock, waiting to catch a glimpse of the Makarajyothi phenomenon. The crowd on the hillock has begun to swell from Friday evening itself.
Published – January 11, 2025 07:26 pm IST