SABARIMALA: Heavy rain and wind affected thousands of pilgrims at Lord Ayyappa temple, on the trekking path, Pampa and the traditional forest path of Erumeli-Karimala and Sathram-Pulmedu on Thursday. The rain and wind that started lashing Sannidhanam and surrounding areas at 8 am continued till 3 pm, posing hardships to pilgrims.
Thousands of pilgrims who were on the trekking path suffered severe hardships after the path turned slippery consequent on the rain. At Pampa, heavy rain caused problems to the pilgrims who take the customary bath in the river before trekking to the temple. Pilgrims’ vehicles, numbering a dozen, which were parked on Pampa-Triveni were shifted to safer places by the police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel, following the rising water level in the river. The police have imposed a ban on the parking of pilgrims’ vehicles on Pampa-Triveni in the wake of heavy rain and warning of rainfall in the evening.
Collector’s warning
Pathanamthitta: The District Collector has cautioned the people of heavy rain and wind in the next two days. Warning has been issued against travelling in the night between 6 pm and 7 pm. People are requested to seek adequate measures for the availability of water in case of power failure. For the Sabarimala pilgrims, the District Collector urged to avoid pilgrimage between 6 pm and 7 pm and warned against taking the traditional forest paths, Erumeli-Karimala and Sathram-Pulmedu trekking for darshan of Lord
Ayyappa.
Caution on taking bath in river
The police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel warned the pilgrims against taking the customary bath owing to the precedented high water level and flow.
Pilgrim hurt after tree branch falls on him
A pilgrim suffered minor injuries when the branch of a tree fell while the forest personnel were cutting it at Lower Thirumuttam here around 9 am.
Restore power at the earliest: Mani to KSEB
T’Puram: Power Minister M M Mani has given instructions to KSEB officials to restore power at the earliest. Noting the KSEB was trying its level best to restore the disrupted power distribution lines, he said more employees and contract workers will be deployed if necessary. The board personnel have been rushed to restore power distribution that was affected due snapping of lines and trees falling over electric poles. Mani said a meeting has been called on Friday to evaluate the works.