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Sabarimala: As the annual pilgrim at Sabarimala temple moves ahead with crowds swelling by every day, safety concerns have also risen mainly for those devotees who arrive at the holy temple through the treacherous forest route. The Kerala Forest Department has urged pilgrims to avoid visiting the Urakkuzhi waterfalls near the hill shrine due to increasing risks of wildlife encounters and frequent accidents.
In the past one week there has been 4 instances where devotees had escaped unhurt after wild elephants were reportedly enraged. These instances were reported mainly for those devotees who travel through the Vandipperiyar route to Sabarimala which spans around 35 kilometres.
“It has come to our notice that devotees mostly youngsters were found taking reels where they were found shooting wild elephants. Two days ago there was an instance where a group of elephants chased a devotee who luckily got escaped. Following this incident we have issued strict warnings to all devotees”, said Anil, a forest official based in Pampa police outpost.
The advisory was issued by Sannidhanam Special Duty Range Officer Aravind Balakrishnan, who highlighted growing safety concerns in the area. Pilgrims travelling through the traditional forest route often stop at Urakkuzhi to bathe before reaching the sannidhanam, he said.
Located less than 400 metres from Pandithavalam, the spot has become increasingly hazardous, he added. Access to the area is also restricted under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Accidents involving devotees have become more frequent in recent months, according to the officer. The danger is compounded by the regular movement of wild elephant herds in the region, he said, adding that pilgrims have been strongly advised to stay away from the waterfalls, especially during late hours. The pathway to the falls is steep and slippery, further increasing the risk of serious injury.
Reiterating that pilgrim safety remains the department’s priority, Balakrishnan called for full cooperation and strict adherence to the safety instructions
Sabarimala gold case: Ramesh Chennithala to share details of international antique smuggling racket with SIT
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had reportedly sent a letter to the SIT alleging that the gold panels looted from the Sabarimala temple were handed over to middlemen of international antique smuggling racket. On Saturday, he told the media that he holds evidence to prove his allegations and expressed his willingness to give a statement before the SIT. He had alleged that those involved in the Sabarimala gold scam entered into a deal worth ₹500 crore. Following this, the SIT issued a notice asking him to appear for interrogation.
It was on December 5 that he came up with the fresh allegations. Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Chennithala said that there were indications of transactions involving a group reportedly led by antiques dealer Subhash Kapoor, but no concrete evidence had been obtained so far.
He said the value of the gold panels stolen from Sabarimala could touch around ₹500 crore in the international black market for antiquities, though their worth is estimated at around ₹50 crore otherwise. He argued that the gold stolen from Sabarimala was not part of a local conspiracy, but a larger plot hatched to smuggle valuable objects from temples in Kerala
