Neelimala Route Temporarily Closed Again Amid Safety Concerns at Sabarimala
Sabarimala – With a rise in incidents involving devotees slipping and sustaining injuries along the Neelimala stretch of the Pampa–Sannidhanam trekking path, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has once again ordered the temporary closure of this traditional pilgrimage route.
Notably, Mr. Pramod, a devotee, had raised concerns on Thursday, reporting that several parts of the trekking path were dangerously slippery due to continuous rainfall.
Despite such warnings and past incidents, the route remained open until Saturday’s injuries forced swift action.
On Saturday alone, thirteen pilgrims were injured while descending the slippery hill path during heavy rains after their evening darshan at the Sabarimala temple. The injured devotees received first aid at the Pampa General Hospital before being transferred to Pathanamthitta General Hospital for further treatment.
Following the incident, police personnel from Pampa immediately intervened and halted trekking through the Neelimala route.
Confirming the closure, TDB president P.S. Prashanth announced that measures are being initiated to enhance the safety of the route, particularly by improving the grip of the granite stones lining the path from Pampa to Marakkoottam.
“The process involves applying high-temperature flames to the surface of the granite steps. This causes the minerals in the rock to expand and fracture, producing a rough, non-slip texture that’s ideal for wet conditions,” explained Mr. P.S.Prasanth.
The safety enhancement work will be supervised by Mahesh Panikkar, a noted sculptor who recently led the construction of the new Navagraha temple in Sabarimala. If weather conditions permit, the resurfacing project is expected to be completed within two months. In the meantime, pilgrims will be redirected to use the Swami Ayyappan Road as an alternative route.
This is not the first time the Neelimala route has raised safety alarms. On June 16, the path was similarly closed after nearly 30 devotees were injured during the monthly pujas associated with the Malayalam month of Mithunam. At the time, the TDB had assured the public that the route would remain closed until the trekking path was made more slip-resistant.
However, despite this assurance, the path was later reopened without the necessary safety upgrades, leading to the current repeat incident.
The Neelimala route is part of the age-old forest pilgrimage. It was paved with granite stones at a cost of ₹12 crore under the Union government’s Swadesh Darshan scheme two years ago. However, continuous footfall from lakhs of pilgrims has polished the stone surfaces over time, rendering them dangerously smooth, especially during the monsoon season when rain, moss, rotting leaves, and mud exacerbate the risk of slipping.