Pulmedu, Saturday, January 15, 2011: Among the 102 Sabarimala pilgrims who were killed in a stampede that occurred at Pulmedu on Friday night, five have been identified as Keralites. The Keralties were identified as Korukutty, 60 from Vengara, Unnikrishnan from Thripunithura, Padmanabhan from Palakkad, Krishnaprasanth of Chennai and Satheesh from Kunnamkulam.

Majority of the deceased were from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as the grassland forest route known as `Pulmedu’ in the Periyar tiger reserve, is trodden by devotees from these states.

The stampede occurred around 8.00pm yesterday when the pilgrims were returning after watching the celestial Makara Jyothi light, the most important event of the pilgrimage, from a hillock some 30 km from the Sabarimala temple.

Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan today said that the State government would conduct a judicial probe into the stampede at Pulmedu that claimed the lives of 102 Sabarimala pilgrims and more than 70 injured at Vandiperiyar on Friday night. Speaking to the reporters after reaching Kumali, VS added that government would also seek the service of the High Court sitting judge for investigating into the tragedy.

The Travancore Devaswom Board and the State government would provide a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those who sustained small injuries.

Arrangements would be made to keep the unidentified bodies till the relatives turn up. The Travancore Devaswom Board too has announced to look after the treatment expenses of those injured and the expenses for cremation. A relief of one lakh rupees has been announced to the kith and kin of those dead from the Prime Miniter’s relief fund. The injured would be given 50,000 rupees each.

All the 102 bodies have been brought to the government hospital at nearby Kumali town as police and fire force worked overnight with local rescuers at the hilly terrain where the the mishap happened last evening.75 of the dead has been identified so far.