Over 20 people were injured, three of them seriously, in a stampede at famous Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala on Sunday evening.
Those with serious injuries have been rushed to Kottayam Medical College hospital while others are undergoing treatment at Sannidhanam hospital near the temple. All the injured were pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, said police.
Devaswom minister Kadakampalli Surendran told reporters that all the injured would be provided with free treatment. He also promised a detailed probe into the incident. Surendran, along with Devaswom president Prayar Gopalakrishnan, visited the victims at the hospital.
Due to the heavy rush, a rope barricade between 'Sannidhanam' and 'Malikapuram' snapped and the pilgrims, who were leaning on it fell on each other, Pathnamthitta District Collector R. Girija told PTI.
There was a heavy rush of pilgrims on Sunday, the penultimate day before the culmination of 41-day mandala pooja.
The mishap occurred just as the holy Thanga Angi procession carrying the ornaments that is to be adorned on Lord Ayyappa on Mandala pooja on Monday had reached the temple in the evening. The procession starts from Aranmula Sree Parthasarthy temple, four days prior to the mandala pooja.
Police have been restricting the movement of pilgrims from downhill Pamba to Sannidhanam because of the heavy rush.
(With inputs from agencies)
