Kumily, Sunday, January 16, 2011: The Nair Service Society (NSS) today came down heavily on the LDF government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and opined that both cannot wash their hands off from their responsibility in the tragedy. NSS secretary G Sukumaran Nair opined that it is indeed a failure of those concerned for not taking adequate precautionary measures in spite of the fact that a commission report suggesting comprehensive measures for the safety and humanitarian measures is pending.

The BJP also criticised the inadequate services provided by the government to lakhs of Sabarimala pilgrims. 102 pilgrims who were returning after the ‘Makarajyoti’ darshan had lost their lives from a stampede at Pulmedu in Vandiperiyar on Friday night. The pilgrims who had fell down were crushed down by others due to the stampede.

The autopsy reports reveal that majority of the pilgrims had died of injuries to their internal organs and suffocation after being crushed.

(News Agency inputs)