SABARIMALA, JAN 14: In a gruesome tragedy, at least 25 Ayyappa devotees were killed and over 100 injured in a landslide at Pamba near here late this evening, police said.The mishap occurred when pilgrims were watching the `Makara Jyoti' (celestial light) at the nearby Sabarimala hills. As more and more devotees climbed the hillock to have a darshan of the Jyoti, a portion of the hillock caved in.
The victims fell from the 60 ft high hillock and were buried alive under the debris. The injured were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals at Pattanamthitta.
Five of the dead had so far been identified, police sources said. Two of the dead were from southern Tamil Nadu. Over 15 lakh people from several parts of the country had congregated for the makara jyoti today.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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