Kerala govt blamed for Sabarimala tragedy

The bench has been monitoring Sabarimala pilgrim season since January 5.

The Bench observed that there was lack of coordination between various departments which led to the tragedy that occurred as the pilgrims were returning after witnessing ‘Makara Jyothi’ (celestial light).

The judges also wanted to know if ‘Makara Jyothi’, to witness which lakhs of pilgrims converge at Sabarimala every year,was man made or celestial and the difference between ‘Makara Jyothi’ and ‘Makara Vilakku’.

Reacting to the court’s comments,chief minister,V S Ahutanandan,told reporters at Thiruvananthapuram that his Government had no plans to probe whether it was a divine phenomenon or man-lit exercise as essentially the whole issue was a matter of faith for millions.

“The Government is neither going to consult astrologers nor materialist scientists to ascertain the veracity of Makarajothi,which millions believe as divine and throng the temple with intense wish to sight it”,he said.

The court also impleaded the Union Government in the case and asked the Centre to file a counter on its views on permitting pilgrims through Pullmedu,which is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

On the court’s directions Kerala DGP Jacob Punnose,TDB Commissioner,N Vasu and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest T M Manoharan filed separate reports on the tragedy.

While DGP Jacob Punnose in his report stated that about 279 policemen including 2 DYSPs and a circle inspector had been deployed to regulate the crowd and 1400 passes were given by the Forest department to three wheelers and four wheelers,the TDB Commissioner said not enough police and forest officials were there to guide the pilgrims on the route. The forest department said it had taken all safeguards.

Kerala Government has decided to set up a special team of officials for the delivery of the solatium of Rs 6 lakah each for the 102 devotees who were killed in the stampede.

The relief payment would include Rs 5 lakh from the state government and Trvancore Devaswom Board and Rs one lakh from the Prime Minister’s relief fund,Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

The injured would get Rs 75,000 with the state’s component being Rs 50,000.