Kerala govt proposes safety steps in HC affidavit
The Kerala government on Friday filed an affidavit before the High Court elaborating its plans for disaster prevention in the wake of the Sabarimala tragedy, which claimed 102 lives earlier this month.
After drawing flak from the Kerala High Court for its inadequate response to the recent tragedy, the state government submitted before the court that it would draw up an action plan for disaster prevention and also take up various measures including development of Nilakkal base camp, which would help to regulate the entry of pilgrims to Sabarimala.
Additional chief secretary K Jayakumar, submitting the affidavit on behalf of the government, said new projects for better crowd management has been identified and the Sabarimala Master Plan will also be implemented before the next season.
Creating additional space at ‘Sannidhanam’ (Sanctum Sanctorum) by constructing two storeyed walk way, creating an exit over-bridge at the back of the temple, shifting the Prasadam complex, improving facilities and safety at the points at which pilgrims congregate to watch ‘Makara Jyothi’, were among the projects.
Emphasis would also be laid on safety measures on the main route and other routes in consulation with disaster management agencies.
The court had asked the Forest Department, the police and the TDB, that manages the temple, to explain what caused the tragedy. Initial reports suggested that an auto used by pilgrims collided with a jeep and that triggered panic which erupted into a stampede.
The Kerala Police washed off their hands saying they cannot be held responsible for 102 death on Jan 14 stampede near the Sabarimala temple.
The police in their report filed before the Kerala High court said Thursday more than 200 policemen were on duty in the area, and the rescue operations that followed the stampede were impressive at Pullmedu in the Idukki district on the fateful day.
The Kerala police and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) filed reports before the division bench comprising justice Thothathil B. Radhakrishnan and justice P.S. Gopinathan.
The Inspector-General of the Police in Ernakulam appeared in court to submit his department’s report which asserts that the police followed all the regulations for the area.
The bench on Monday pulled up the state government and its police administration over the alleged neglect of warnings on the safety of Sabarimala pilgrims.
The court also slammed the Forest department and TDB officials and told them to reports by Thursday.
The bench on Jan 5 had asked the authorities to regulate the flow of pilgrims to avoid possible disasters like stampede and had observed that there had been lack of co-ordination among various departments involved in conduct of the festival at Sabarimala, which attracts millions of pilgrims during the two-month long season from mid-Nov.
The stampede on Jan 14 happened as the devotees were returning after witnessing the ‘Makara Jyothi’ (celestial light) at Pullmedu in Vandiperiyar in Idukki district.
Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said the proposed judicial probe to be conducted into the disaster would cover all aspects and the guilty would not be spared.
The TDB said that it has repeatedly been denied permission to improve infrastructure and facilities for the millions of pilgrims that visit the Sabarimala temple.
It said, because a part of the area is demarcated as a tiger reserve, the trust is restricted in its development work. It highlights that the lane used by pilgrims to walk to and from the temple is narrow and that parking in the area is not regulated.