Vehicle-ban from 4th mile to Uppupara suggested

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The judicial inquiry committee that looked into the Pulmedu tragedy has strongly recommended the ban on movement of vehicles from the 4th Mile to Uppupara, in its draft report.If this is implemented, there may not be any need for barricades such as  chains to obstruct the free movement of pilgrims during the season or at least on Makaravilakku day, said the committee headed by Justice M R Hariharan Nair, in the draft report.The causative factor for the stampede found out by the judicial commission is similar to the reason cited by the media reports of the time; that it was the sudden rush of pilgrims to get back to their vehicles parked in the area immediately after seeing the Makaravilakku.The narrow pathway, overturning of a parked autorickshaw injuring devotees standing right behind, injury to devotees while trying to start a jeep, an attack on pilgrims by the persons in charge of wayside shops that got damaged and inadequate number of policemen on duty all contributed to the stampede.The shop-owners used sticks, logs and chairs to attack the pilgrims. The attempt of pilgrims to protect themselves from the attack also added to the melee. In the rush of pilgrims in darkness, many got tipped over the said chain and others who followed them also fell over them.As a solution to the problem of insufficient lighting, the report has suggested use of a particular type of electric light (ASKA) run on battery power which can be placed anywhere and can be removed easily after use."Besides the barring of vehicular movement and the provision for ASKA lights the suggestion is that location of the temporary shops of the Eco Development Committee should be decided in consultation with the District Collector. It is further essential that these shops are inspected by the various police and Forest authorities to ensure that unauthorised persons do not engage in sale of items fleecing the pilgrims,’’ the draft report said.The inquiry committee found that absence of mobile phone coverage in the area resulted in lack of communication which led to the inordinate delay in reaching the victims to hospitals and in taking remedial measures. As a solution, the committee has suggested providing adequate number of mobile towers in the forest area. "This is to ensure mobile phone coverage in the routes normally taken up by pilgrims, without hindrance to the eco system, must be considered by the government in consultation with the service providers like BSNL,’’ it said.The committee recommended improvement of facilities at parking places such as Sathram, Vallakkadavu and Parunthumpara with facilities for viewing Makaravilakku from other spots such as Panchalimedu and Attathodu among others. This must be done by the Travancore Devaswom Board with the active co-operation of the Forest Department, said the commission.A site inspection will be held at the scene of occurrence at Pulmedu as also at places like Sathram, Spencer Junction, Uppupara, Vallakkadavu and Seethakkulam on August 17 said justice M R Hariharan Nair in the report. An interim report will be filed by mid-September.