Sabarimala temple sees record rush, crowd control steps kick in
Sabarimala temple in Kerala just saw a huge surge—almost two lakh devotees showed up within 48 hours of the pilgrimage opening.
The crowd was so intense that some waited up to 14 hours for darshan, and traffic on approach roads came to a standstill.
The turnout blew past the daily cap of 90,000 pilgrims, putting serious pressure on facilities.
How are authorities handling it?
To keep things moving, officials have extended darshan hours and strictly limited spot bookings.
Extra staff are now helping with water, sanitation, and queue management along the trekking route.
Waiting areas can hold more people now, with food and water arranged for those stuck in line.
Why are people talking about this?
Political parties are calling out the state government for not being prepared—especially since central forces like NDRF weren't brought in to help manage crowds.
Volunteer groups have stepped up to support.
It's a reminder of how tough it is to balance tradition, safety, and massive crowds at one of India's biggest pilgrimages.