Kerala / Sabarimala Pilgrimage Begins with Severe Crowd Mismanagement, Long Queues
·7 months ago·2 min read
Key Points
- Sabarimala’s Mandala Makaravilakku season began with reports of severe crowd mismanagement, long queues and shortages of water and basic facilities.
- Daily arrivals have crossed one lakh pilgrims, exceeding the 90000 intake limit and causing waiting times of 10 to 15 hours
- TDB President K Jayakumar acknowledged logistical failures as police deployment and crowd control systems remained inadequate.
Pathanamthitta, Nov 18: The annual Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season at Sabarimala has begun amid mounting complaints of severe crowd mismanagement and a breakdown of essential services, as tens of thousands of devotees reported long queues, water shortages and inadequate basic facilities.
To handle the swelling crowds Tuesday, authorities extended the forenoon darshan by two hours, but the measure did little to ease the pressure. More than one lakh pilgrims have been arriving daily since the shrine opened Monday -- far beyond the 90,000-a-day intake limit set under the virtual queue and spot booking systems.
Pilgrims said they were forced to wait 10 to 15 hours in congested corridors, with many fainting due to the lack of drinking water, shade and properly functioning toilets. Videos from the shrine showed exhausted devotees collapsing as queues stretched from the 18 sacred steps to the covered walkway.
For smooth movement, at least 90 pilgrims must pass through the steps every minute, but the current rate has dropped to nearly half, causing an enormous pile-up.
Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) President K Jayakumar acknowledged the shortfall in arrangements, admitting that even on a routine day like the second day of Vrischikam, the preparations were inadequate. He pointed to poorly maintained bio-toilets, insufficient water points and shortages in the Devaswom mess facilities, which have been hit by logistical failures.
The absence of central forces such as NDRF and RAF -- traditionally deployed for crowd control --has further stretched the police. Although 18,000 personnel have been allotted for the season, only about 3,500 are currently posted across Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilakkal.
The transit hub at Nilakkal has also seen repeated breakdowns in crowd-regulation systems, with a lack of barricades and limited KSRTC shuttle buses forcing pilgrims into jostling queues.
The situation has drawn comparisons to last year’s crisis, raising concerns that many devotees may be compelled to cut their pilgrimage short if urgent corrective measures are not taken. With the footfall expected to surge on weekends and festival days, officials face increasing pressure to restore order and strengthen basic services.
(IANS)
To handle the swelling crowds Tuesday, authorities extended the forenoon darshan by two hours, but the measure did little to ease the pressure. More than one lakh pilgrims have been arriving daily since the shrine opened Monday -- far beyond the 90,000-a-day intake limit set under the virtual queue and spot booking systems.
Pilgrims said they were forced to wait 10 to 15 hours in congested corridors, with many fainting due to the lack of drinking water, shade and properly functioning toilets. Videos from the shrine showed exhausted devotees collapsing as queues stretched from the 18 sacred steps to the covered walkway.
For smooth movement, at least 90 pilgrims must pass through the steps every minute, but the current rate has dropped to nearly half, causing an enormous pile-up.
Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) President K Jayakumar acknowledged the shortfall in arrangements, admitting that even on a routine day like the second day of Vrischikam, the preparations were inadequate. He pointed to poorly maintained bio-toilets, insufficient water points and shortages in the Devaswom mess facilities, which have been hit by logistical failures.
The absence of central forces such as NDRF and RAF -- traditionally deployed for crowd control --has further stretched the police. Although 18,000 personnel have been allotted for the season, only about 3,500 are currently posted across Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilakkal.
The transit hub at Nilakkal has also seen repeated breakdowns in crowd-regulation systems, with a lack of barricades and limited KSRTC shuttle buses forcing pilgrims into jostling queues.
The situation has drawn comparisons to last year’s crisis, raising concerns that many devotees may be compelled to cut their pilgrimage short if urgent corrective measures are not taken. With the footfall expected to surge on weekends and festival days, officials face increasing pressure to restore order and strengthen basic services.
(IANS)
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