Driver Seriously Injured After Sharp Metal Object Pierces His Back While Bathing in Pampa River; Serious Safety Lapse for Sabarimala Pilgrims
Pampa: A 54-year-old driver from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, suffered serious injuries after a sharp metal object lying on the bed of the Pampa River pierced his back while he was bathing near Pampa.
The injured man, identified as Meenakshi Kumar (54), was later shifted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital for specialised treatment.
Meenakshi Kumar had arrived at Pampa on Friday morning with Sabarimala pilgrims in a vehicle operated by a travel agency. After dropping the pilgrims off for their trek to Sabarimala, he went to bathe in the Pampa River at around 11 a.m. near the second bridge at Triveni.
While bathing, he slipped in the water and lost his balance, causing him to suddenly fall into a sitting position. A sharp metal object sticking out from the riverbed then pierced his back, causing a serious injury.
Other pilgrims and police personnel immediately came to his assistance and took him to Pampa Government Hospital. He was subsequently shifted to Pathanamthitta General Hospital. However, due to the depth of the wound, doctors were unable to stitch the injury there. He was then referred to Kottayam Medical College Hospital for further treatment.
The incident has raised concerns over the presence of concrete slabs, sharp metal objects and other debris accumulated in the river during previous floods. According to the information available, such debris has not yet been completely removed from the riverbed.
The continued presence of sharp metal and construction debris in areas used by pilgrims for bathing poses a serious safety risk, particularly during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. The incident has renewed calls for authorities to inspect the riverbed and remove hazardous debris from the bathing areas at Pampa.