TDB Advises Devotees to Postpone Sabarimala Niraputhari Pilgrimage Amid Flood Alert
Pathanamthitta, Kerala: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has issued a directive advising devotees planning to visit Sabarimala for the Niraputhari festival on August 2 and 3 to avoid the pilgrimage until weather conditions improve, citing heavy rain, flooding at Pampa, and the threat of landslides.
The district administration here also appealed to devotees to reconsider their visit, citing heavy rain, flooding in the Pampa river, the possibility of landslides and the security alert issued in the region.
According to Sources, vehicles, including KSRTC buses, are not being allowed to Pampa. It also warned that if heavy rain continues overnight, travel to Pampa is likely to remain suspended on Tomorrow as well.
Meanwhile, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said that the Sabarimala temple will reopen for the Chingam monthly poojas from August 16 to 21 and for the special Onam poojas from August 24 to 28. The Board clarified that devotees can visit the temple for darshan during these periods.
The Devaswom Board also urged devotees to strictly follow the instructions issued by the authorities, as adverse weather conditions continue to prevail along the Pampa riverbanks and the forest routes leading to Sannidhanam.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.
The Travancore Devaswom Board has advised devotees to reconsider their pilgrimage to Sabarimala until weather conditions improve. Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta District Police Chief has also urged the public and Sabarimala pilgrims to remain vigilant during the adverse weather and to strictly follow the instructions issued by the police and other authorities.