Rain causes slight disruptions to Sabarimala pilgrimage in Kerala
Heavy rain and a landslip-triggered road blockade caused minor disruptions to the Sabarimala pilgrimage on Monday (August 3, 2026), forcing authorities to impose temporary restrictions
Heavy rain and a landslip-triggered road blockade caused minor disruptions to the Sabarimala pilgrimage on Monday (August 3, 2026), forcing authorities to impose temporary restrictions on devotees travelling to the hill temple for the annual Nira Puthari festival. Pilgrims travelling from Nilackal were temporarily stopped following reports of a landslip at Attathodu, while those arriving through Erumely also faced entry curbs. The restrictions were imposed as a precaution amid continuing heavy rain in the Sabarimala forests.
The downpour, which began on Sunday evening, continued through the night and into the early hours of Monday. Although the rain eased intermittently during the afternoon and stopped briefly, it resumed later in the day. Pampa in spate With the Pampa river flowing in spate, authorities prohibited pilgrims from entering the river for bathing as a safety measure. Heavy rain also damaged stretches of the forest route leading to Sannidhanam.
Trees and large branches fell across the Swami Ayyappan Road, while power lines snapped at several locations. Taking note of the situation, officials of the Forest department and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) launched operations to clear the fallen trees and restore access. Though the rain subsided slightly in the forest region on Monday, officials said the risk from weakened trees and unstable terrain remained. Pilgrims, who reached Nilackal on Sunday evening, were allowed to resume their journey to the hill temple only in the early hours of Monday after the road was cleared.
Officials said the timely restrictions ensured that no injuries were reported despite the hazardous conditions. Despite the adverse weather, pilgrims who eventually reached Sannidhanam said the trek to the temple remained largely smooth and that darshan arrangements were well managed.
The BriefWire