Near-Stampede at Sabarimala Prompts HC to Slash Spot Bookings to 5,000, Daily Darshan Limit Reduced to 75,000

The Kerala High Court has imposed a daily limit of 5,000 spot bookings at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple until November 24, reducing the total darshan capacity to 75,000 pilgrims per day. The court said the cap was necessary after reports of severe congestion and a near-stampede-like situation during the early Mandala season rush, raising fears of potential tragedy if immediate steps were not taken.

During a recent hearing, the court criticised the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for lapses in crowd management. It noted that long queues, lack of drinking water, and insufficient sanitation along the Sannidhanam flyover were putting pilgrims at risk. The judges said they were not satisfied with the TDB's preparedness and stressed that the Board must take immediate corrective steps to improve the situation.

The High Court has now directed the TDB to significantly upgrade infrastructure and basic amenities at the shrine. It ordered the installation of at least 1,000 bio-toilets from Nilakkal to Sannidhanam and instructed that each one should have an attendant for proper maintenance. The court also emphasised the need for uninterrupted drinking water supply at Sannidhanam, Pamba, and along the trekking route. In addition, it mandated that 200 rooms at Sannidhanam be reserved exclusively for online booking and asked the authorities to deploy multilingual staff along the Pamba-Sannidhanam path to assist devotees. A multilingual public grievance portal must also be launched within three weeks so that pilgrims can report issues quickly and receive timely support.

The TDB attempted to explain that certain areas could not accommodate additional facilities due to space constraints, sacred zones, and ecologically sensitive patches within the protected Periyar Tiger Reserve. However, the court made it clear that these limitations could not be used as an excuse for failing to provide essential services. It reminded the Board that ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of pilgrims must take priority, especially during a season when the footfall crosses 50 lakh.

The urgency of these directions became even more apparent after a 60-year-old woman collapsed and died while waiting for darshan. Her death highlighted the consequences of overcrowding and the importance of tightening crowd controls well before peak days arrive.

The High Court also raised concerns about the practice of offering donors five free days of accommodation every year. It instructed the TDB to revisit this policy in consultation with all stakeholders, stressing that such privileges should not come at the cost of ordinary devotees who endure long waits and inadequate facilities.

Initially, the TDB had planned to allow 90,000 pilgrims daily, including 20,000 spot bookings. But given the massive crowds expected during Mandalam-Makaravilakku and the persistent infrastructure gaps, the court concluded that a stricter cap was necessary. It directed the Board to act with urgency, sensitivity, and humanity so that every devotee visiting Sabarimala this season can do so safely.