Safety Concerns Rise as TDB Starts Trek Path Repairs in Sabarimala

Swift Summary

• The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has closed the Neelimala route on the Pampa-Sannidhanam trekking path in Sabarimala due to injuries sustained by devotees.
• Thirteen devotees were injured on Saturday while descending amid heavy rains after offering darshan at the hill shrine; thay received first aid at Pampa General Hospital and were later shifted to Pathanamthitta General Hospital.
• Police halted further trekking via this route after the incidents. Devotees now redirected via the Swami Ayyappan Road temporarily.
• TDB president confirmed work is underway to improve grip on granite stones along the trek using high-temperature flames for roughening surfaces, likely to finish within two months under sculptor Mahesh Panikkar’s supervision.
• The Neelimala route had previously been closed for safety improvements following similar injuries in June, but it was reopened without completing promised anti-slip measures.
• The trekking path,paved with stones under Swadesh Darshan scheme two years ago costing ₹12 crore,has become dangerously smooth over time due to continuous use by lakhs of pilgrims combined with monsoon conditions.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The decision by TDB underscores persistent challenges in ensuring pilgrim safety along traditional routes during peak seasons and adverse weather conditions. While redirecting devotees temporarily minimizes immediate risks,recurring incidents highlight gaps in implementing preventive measures effectively and consistently-particularly given earlier assurances about improving slip resistance on these trekking paths.

The utilization of advanced techniques like flame treatment for long-term solutions indicates some progress but raises questions about oversight during prior initiatives such as paving under government schemes like Swadesh Darshan.With lakhs of pilgrims relying on these routes annually, delays or incomplete execution may not only compromise safety but also affect faith-based tourism central to kerala’s economy.

As monsoons exacerbate hazards like polished stone surfaces and moss accumulation, focused infrastructure planning prioritizing pilgrim well-being remains imperative-not just as a reactive step post-incidents but proactively integrated into broader religious tourism strategies.Read more: [source link]