After a brief lull, the influx of pilgrims to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple began to rise again from Friday even as authorities intensified security in and around the hill shrine in connection with the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Saturday.
Close to one lakh people visited the hill shrine on Friday, and nearly half a lakh arrived by Saturday afternoon, taking the total number of pilgrims this season past 17 lakh, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials said. While the inflow was moderate in the early hours of Saturday, the rush intensified by noon.
Meanwhile, the hill shrine and its premises have been under tight security over the past few days in connection with the anniversary. As part of the measures, units of the Kerala Police, Central Reserve Police Force-Rapid Action Force (CRPF–RAF),National Disaster Response Force (NDRF),Anti-Sabotage Check Team, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), and the Special Branch jointly conducted a route march on Friday.
Movement of tractors
Devotees were not allowed to climb the 18 holy steps after 11 p.m., and the sanctum and its surroundings were thoroughly inspected by the Kerala Police’s anti-sabotage team. Those arriving after the temple’s closure were permitted to ascend the steps the following morning. The movement of tractors bringing materials to the Sannidhanam was also regulated during this period.
Riding on the back of the rising pilgrim influx, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) daily collection through Pampa services now stands at around ₹50 lakh. Officials said 180 chain services run daily between Pampa and Nilackal, in addition to 275 to 300 long-distance services, most of which originate from central and southern Kerala.