A high-level officials' meeting today decided to allow resumption of pilgrimage to the famous Chathuragiri hills temple, which was banned after the recent death of six persons in flash floods, with improved security and safety measures.
District Collectors of Madurai L Subramanian and Virudhunagar A Rajaraman, who presided over the meeting held at nearby T.Kallupatti, said there had been demand for lifting the ban on pilgrims visiting the hills for offering worship at the Sundaramahalingam Swamy temple during the new moon and full moon days.
The meeting resolved to put in place a series of measures to make the trekking safe for the pilgrims, who throng the hills in large numbers on the two days every month.
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On May 17, six pilgrims were washed away and around 200 others trapped after a flash flood in a jungle river while on their way to the temple, prompting the authorities to ban the pilgrimage.
Under the improved security scheme, medical, Police, Fire and Rescue personnel and forest officials would be deployed round-the-clock one-day ahead of the new moon and full moon days, the Collectors said.
The committee decided to ban entry of old people and also restrict the visiting time from six AM to four PM.
Supporting ropes would be provided at nine places to help the pilgrims negotiate jungle rivers, including the one where the flash floods swept away six persons on May 17, and risky slopes, the two officials said.
A six-member team comprising Fire and Rescue personnel, police and forest officials would be deployed at the sensitive areas to help the pilgrims.
Besides state-run telecom service provider BSNL had been requested to extend the WLL Phone (wireless) facility in the Hills. There was also a plan to provide emergency lights at select places.
The Collectors appealed to the pilgrims to cooperate with the security team and get instructions from them before setting out for the pilgrimage.
