Sabarimala Overcrowding Alert: HC Limits Daily Spot Bookings to 5,000 Till November 24

Sabarimala Overcrowding Alert: HC Limits Daily Spot Bookings to 5,000 Till November 24

The Kerala High Court has issued strict crowd-control measures at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple after reviewing the heavy rush during the Mandala season. Highlighting concerns over overcrowding, safety, and inadequate amenities, the court ordered that only 5,000 spot bookings per day be allowed until November 24, reducing the temple’s daily darshan capacity to 75,000 pilgrims. These directions follow rising pressure on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to ensure safe movement, sanitation, and drinking water facilities for devotees.

HC Flags Overcrowding and Safety Risks

During the hearing, the court pulled up the TDB for lapses in managing crowd flow, pointing to long queues, lack of drinking water, and insufficient sanitation along the Sannidhanam flyover. The Bench warned that the massive rush could result in suffocation, accidents, or a major tragedy if immediate steps are not taken.

The order came a day after a 60-year-old woman collapsed and died while waiting for darshan, underscoring the urgency of tighter crowd controls.

Limits on Darshan and Spot Booking Revisions

The TDB initially permitted 90,000 pilgrims daily, with 20,000 through spot booking. The High Court revised this plan, stating that a stricter cap was essential to protect pilgrims during Mandalam–Makaravilakku season, which attracts over 50 lakh devotees every year.

Court Orders Improved Infrastructure and Amenities

The Bench directed the TDB to:

• Install at least 1,000 bio-toilets from Nilakkal to Sannidhanam
• Ensure drinking water supply at Sannidhanam, Pamba, and along the trekking route
• Keep attendants at every bio-toilet for maintenance
• Earmark 200 rooms at Sannidhanam for online booking only
• Deploy multilingual staff along the Pamba–Sannidhanam path
• Launch a multilingual public grievance portal within three weeks

TDB Cites Space Constraints

The Board said infrastructure expansion is challenging due to restricted space in the protected area. It explained that drinking water kiosks and toilets cannot be built in certain zones because they fall within sacred or environmentally sensitive precincts.
However, the court stated that these limitations cannot override the need for safety and essential facilities.

Revisiting Donor Privileges

The HC also questioned the long-standing practice of offering donors five free days of accommodation each year. The court asked the TDB to review this policy after consulting all stakeholders.

Directing the Board to act with “spirit, urgency and humanity,” the Bench made it clear that the welfare of devotees must remain the top priority throughout the pilgrimage season.