KOTTAYAM: Miserable pilgrimage continued for the Sabarimala devotees as many were left stranded for hours in vehicles at various places on the way to Sabarimala as well as in queues towards sannidhanam on Tuesday also.
Some of the pilgrims who could not proceed to Pampa from the Nilakkal base camp due to the delay, returned to Pandalam and visited the Valiya Koyikkal temple here before returning to their respective homes. Most of these pilgrims were from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and from the northern districts of Kerala.
The pilgrims performed the rituals which were to be done at Sannidhanam like neyyabhishekam at the temple in Pandalam.
Meanwhile, TDB special secretary M G Rajamanickam said that more than 1,20,000 devotees are arriving daily at Sabarimala. This includes 80,000 through virtual queue system, around 20,000 through spot booking and around 5000 through Pullumedu forest path. Around 4200 devotees climb the pathinettam padi in an hour, he said. He also said that around 30pc of the pilgrims are elderly and children. To ensure their safety, only 3800 to 3900 pilgrims can climb the steps in an hour. The rush in Pampa and Nilakkal is felt because of this, he said.
On Tuesday also pilgrims were stranded at the base camp at Nilakkal. The vehicles of pilgrims are only allowed till there and they have to proceed to Pampa in the KSRTC buses. Most of the buses were overcrowded and the pilgrims had to wait for hours at Nilakkal to catch a bus to Pampa.
