IDUKKI:Even as the one-day Chitrapournami festival at Mangala Devi temple, near Kumily, witnessed a record participation of 18,500 pilgrims on Monday, one person died of heart attack.
Balan, 63, a retired KSRTC employee from Thodupuzha, died without being able to offer prayers at the temple, police said.
He developed uneasiness and collapsed while walking towards the temple after scaling the hills.
The medical team near the shrine rushed to his rescue and administered first aid. Later Balan was shifted to the Periyar Hospital at Kumily with the help of a forest vehicle. He was declared brought dead at the hospital, sources said. Balan is survived by wife Sarala, son Bineesh who is Yuva Morcha district secretary and daughter Bindu. After retirement, Balan was engaged in driving private vehicles. Meanwhile, there was a surge of 1,500 pilgrims this year as against the last year’s number of 17,000. Large number of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu had thronged the temple which is conducted only for one day a year.The pilgrimage is allowed in a restricted manner as the temple is situated inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve, about 14 kms from Kumily.
Pilgrims were not allowed to carry plastic articles inside. Only permitted jeeps were allowed to ferry the pilgrims to the temple. The temple opened at 6 am and closed at 3 pm after all rituals.The arrangements were being monitored by Idukki district administration in association with Theni district administration of Tamil Nadu.