Kochi: The Kerala High Court has temporarily prohibited pilgrimage via the traditional forest routes to Sabarimala due to adverse weather conditions. The court has instructed that no pilgrimage will be allowed until further orders and directed district collectors to enforce the decision.
The affected routes include Vandiperiyar, Sathram, Pullumedu, and Erumeli. The court emphasized the need to ensure a safe pilgrimage experience for devotees and instructed district collectors of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki to prioritize safety measures.
Officials have been asked to inform devotees about the restrictions. The court also reiterated its earlier directive to provide special queues for elderly pilgrims and children, seeking updates on the implementation of this arrangement.
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission had recently suggested setting up separate queues for elderly and young devotees, prompting the court to inquire about the basis of this intervention.
