On Sunday 18 October, on the Nilackal–Pampa road towards Sabarimala, in Pathanamthitta district, pilgrims sat for hours in vehicles. The Hindu writes of thousands, including children and elderly women, often without food and water. After darshan, the wait for KSRTC buses at Pampa became a protest: they blocked the road.

Officials put the jam on works on the same stretch and on too few state buses for the surge. The queue reached Attathodu. An accident on the route lengthened the line; these reports name no casualties. The New Indian Express confirms the same causes, on the opening of Thulam-month darshan.

Harsh exchanges followed between pilgrims and police, then a road block. These reports are not a criminal file; they are a traffic blockade. The force was doubled: 800 for crowd control, 500 already at Sannidhanam, 90 on the 18 holy steps alone.

Devaswom minister K. Muraleedharan told the Travancore Devaswom Board to stay extra careful until 22 October, when the temple closes after the monthly rites. Virtual-queue bookings passed 150,000 in the first three days; about 60,000 for Sunday and Monday. The weekend and Navaratri made five holidays in a row.

The 41-day Mandalam season is next month. NIE gives the reopening as 16 November. An official, quoted by The Hindu, says that if repairs lag, the annual season could slide into chaos. That is his warning, not our verdict.

NIE also notes a vehicle with children from Pandalam Palace, going for the melshanthi selection, held for hours in the queue. A pilgrims’ committee called an emergency meeting with the authorities. The temple stays open until 22 October.

Image: Sunilc087, Sabarimala pilgrimage centre, 18 April 2018, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. Not Sunday’s jam.

Sources consulted: Traffic gridlock on Sabarimala route sparks protest as pilgrims are stranded for hours — The Hindu; Bus shortage & inadequate crowd management anger Sabarimala devotees — The New Indian Express.