Over 100 pilgrims dead in Kerala stampede, crash

VANDIPERIYAR - More than 100 pilgrims were killed late on Friday in a stampede in a forest near the Sabarimala shrine when thousands of devotees were returning after watching the celestial Makara Jyothi light, the most important event of the pilgrimage.

By (IANS)

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Published: Sat 15 Jan 2011, 1:46 AM

Last updated: Tue 30 Jun 2020, 12:56 PM

The death toll of 106 is expected to go up, officials said. The stampede occurred in a forested area at Pulmedu, 30km from Sabarimala after 8pm.
Suresh, a doctor treating the injured at the local hospital here, said the stampede occurred when a barricade broke and the huge crowd surged forward, trampling many under foot.
“They say it was a stampede after a barricade broke and the huge crowd that had gathered at Pulmedu got jittery, and in the melee several pilgrims died,” said the doctor.
Friday was the most important day in the Sabarimala pilgrimage as a celestial light appears on the horizon, which can be seen even 30km from the temple town. Since the past few days the temple town has been overflowing with pilgrims, with many coming from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Many pilgrims had gathered near Pulmedu, about 30km from Sabarimala temple, and were watching the celestial Makara Jyothi when the barricade broke and the stampede occurred.
Reports indicate that most of the dead are from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Local legislator E.S. Bijimol told IANS that she heard reports that the stampede occurred when a jeep that had broken down was pushed and it suddenly rolled into the crowd.
“I am at the local hospital at Vandiperiyar and from the information that I have been able to gather is that the death toll has risen to 53. I am told that the casualty is likely to go up,” said Bijimol.


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