Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Strong currents pose threat to Ayyappa devotees at Pampa bathing ghats

Staff Reporter

Flash floods likely; no lifeguards posted at the bathing ghats

DANGER ZONE: Devotees taking the customary holy dip (Pampa-snanom) at the bathing ghats in the Pampa before proceeding to the Ayyappa Sannidhanam.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Pampa River is in spate owing to torrential rain in the forest areas. The heavy inflow from the catchment areas in the forests occasionally leads to flash floods in the river, posing a threat to devotees taking their customary holy dip (Pampa-snanom) at the bathing ghats before undertaking the trek to Ayyappa Sannidhanam.

Need for safety measures

Neither the Travancore Devaswom Board nor the Water Resources Department has taken any precaution to ensure safety at the ghats.

The devotees coming from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were often found taking the holy dip, unaware of the high risk involved.

"It appears that the authorities are waiting for a tragedy to strike so as to take appropriate safety precautions in the Pampa bathing ghats during the monsoon," said a shop owner in Pampa. The vehicle parking ground on the riverbanks at Triveni on the foothills have been inundated with floodwaters.

The authorities have not posted lifeguards along the bathing ghats in view of the strong water currents during the monsoon.

Meanwhile, the strength of the police personnel on duty at the Sannidhanam has been increased to 50, under a Circle Inspector and two Sub-Inspectors from July 16, sources at the police station, Sannidhanam, said. However, no arrangements have been made to screen the devotees, entering the temple precincts, using metal detectors or other gadgets, despite the security alert reportedly issued by various Intelligence agencies in the backdrop of the recent bomb blasts in Mumbai.

Heavy rush continues

The Ayyappa temple continued to witness heavy rush for the second day as hundreds of devotees trekked the holy hillock, braving heavy downpour on Tuesday.

The auspicious Kalabhabhishekom and Sahasrkalasom were held at the temple.

Tantri Kantaru Mohanaru, assisted by Melsanthi M. Sukumaran Namboodiri, performed the Kalabhapuja and Kalasapuja.

The urns carrying the Kalabhom (sandal paste) and Brahmakalasom were taken out in a procession to the sanctum sanctorum with the accompaniment of the sacred Marappani and other temple orchestra for the Abhishekom prior to the Utchapuja. The Padipuja, Udayasthamanapuja and Pushpabhishekom rituals were also conducted.

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