HC pulls up state govt over Sabarimala stampede

Thiruvananthapuram, January 17 (Agencies): The Kerala high court on Monday expressed anguish over neglecting its warning on Sabarimala and directed the state government to submit a report on Friday’s stampede near the hill shrine in which 102 pilgrims crushed to death. Taking the case suo moto, the division bench of Justice Thottathil Radahkrishnan and P Bhavadasan observed that they had given a warning to authorities on Jan 5 (nine days before the incident) to regulate the flow of pilgrims to avert a possible tragedy.
The court had on several occasions reminded the government about the impending tragedy and cautioned it on the need to co-ordinate better with various departments. On Jan 4 when an aged pilgrim died in the rush the court had asked the government to observe utmost caution. Around four crore pilgrims trek the shrine in two month season (Nov-Jan) situated in the midst of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Western Ghats.
“We want to know what really happened. Explain how it occurred by this Thursday,” the bench directed the Travancore Dewasom Board (which manages the affairs of the temple) and the state government. It also sought details of help provided to the injured and those stranded in the area after the incident. The court had intervened several times to ensure proper facilities for milling pilgrims. Stranded devotees had blocked the Additional Director of General of Police’s vehicle in Pulmedu (the site of the stampede) on Sunday demanding better transportation facilities for them.
State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who was in Delhi to attend the CPM politburo meeting visited the site on Monday. He said the crime branch would submit its report in a couple of days. The state had already announced a judicial probe into the third tragedy in 60 years. (In 1954 65 charred to death and in 1999 54 trampled to death). Meanwhile the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has offered its help to prevent such disasters. “We can give three dimensional images. It would give a clear view of the landscape and pilgrims’ flow,” ISRO chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan.