Pathanamthitta, Thursday, December 08, 2011: The police have made elaborate crowd-control arrangements at Sabarimala Sannidhanam in view of heavy rush of pilgrims this year’s Mandala season.

The third batch of police personnel have been deployed in Sannidhanam for the security and crowd control measures on Thursday, Special Officer T Gopalakishna Nair informed. The temple, situated on a hilltop, has been crowded since Thursday evening and pilgrims mostly from neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh stood in five queues - each extending to over a kilometre - waiting for the temple to open.

The police personnel include 14 Deputy Superintendents, 25 Circle Inspectors, 75 Sub Inspectors, 1050 police constables and 85 member dog-squad.

With tragedy striking last season, this time the number of security personnel has been increased. A new footpath, a new bridge and a slew of other measures have been taken to decongest the route.

Police said that for a smoother and less crowded atmosphere, they have set up blocks en route to the temple to avoid any stampede in case of an excessive rush of devotees.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has special counters for the pilgrims and they operate numerous special pilgrim trips to the temple town, around 100 km from Kottayam.

Even though the temple is now open throughout the year, the peak pilgrimage season begins on the first day of the Malayalam month in November and closes on the first day of the Malayalam month in January.

(news agency inputs)