Sabarimala Crowds Capped After Court Intervention

The Travancore Devaswom Board has imposed a daily limit of 5,000 on spot bookings for Sabarimala darshan, adhering to a directive from the Kerala High Court. This measure, effective until November 24, aims to better manage pilgrim flow after initial arrangements were found inadequate.

The court had strongly criticized the board, noting that nearly two lakh pilgrims arrived within 48 hours of the temple's opening on November 17, leading to chaotic situations. With the annual pilgrimage expected to draw millions, the existing systems were deemed insufficient to handle the massive influx of devotees.

Following the court's intervention, a review meeting was held to assess and improve pilgrimage arrangements. Officials reported that crowd control has since been established, ensuring a safe and smooth darshan. Shortcomings in emergency services, sanitation, and supplies have reportedly been addressed.