THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Aruvippuram temple, where Sree Narayana Guru famously consecrated the Siva idol and the nearby Kodithookimala where he meditated are gearing up to welcome pilgrims during the 84th Sivagiri pilgrimage.
Security, traffic arrangements and healthcare facilities for the pilgrims were discussed at a meeting here on Sunday presided over by C K Hareendran MLA ahead of the pilgrimage. As many as 500 policemen will be deployed to ensure security for the pilgrims. They will be deployed across a five km stretch covering Aruvippuram Math, the temple and Kumaragiri in Kodithookimala. A police control room will be set up at the venue to coordinate the security arrangements.
For handling medical emergencies, the Health Department will deploy allopathy, ayurveda and homoeo medical practitioners with ambulance facility. Excise squads, life guards and fire and rescue personnel will be deployed in the area. KSRTC will operate special services in view of the pilgrimage.
I B Satheesh MLA, Sivagiri Math general secretary Swami Sandrananda, Perungadavila grama panchayat president I R Sunitha, ADM John B Samuel, tahsildar A Markose, DySP M K Sulfikar and Aruvippuram Prachara Sabha chief coordinator Vandannur Suresh attended the meeting.