The Health department has put in place extensive arrangements for the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season, which formally begins on Monday.
As part of the preparations, a round-the-clock control centre has been opened at Pampa. In coordination with the Travancore Devaswom Board, emergency medical centres have been set up along the trekking route from Pampa to the Sannidhanam.
The Government Medical College, Konni, will function as the base hospital, while emergency cardiology and cath-lab services have been arranged at the Pathanamthitta General Hospital. Ambulance services equipped to handle cardiac emergencies will be deployed, along with a special ambulance service operating between the Sannidhanam and Pampa.
Temporary dispensary
Health Minister Veena George said all hospitals will be equipped with defibrillators, ventilators, and cardiac monitors. Fully equipped laboratories will operate at Nilackal and Pampa, and operation theatres will function at both Pampa and the Sannidhanam. A temporary dispensary will also operate at the Pandalam Valiya Koyickal temple.
The Food Safety department has formed special squads for inspections, and health cards have been made mandatory for all food outlet employees.
Taking serious note of the rise in amoebic meningitis cases in the State, pilgrims have been advised to take special care to prevent water from entering the nose while bathing.
Meanwhile, the District Collectors of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta have fixed the prices of vegetarian dishes in hotels across both the districts to prevent fleecing during the pilgrimage season.
In Pathanamthitta, road safety works are in the final stages. The Public Works department and the Kerala Water Authority have completed all arrangements. Sanitation squads have been deployed in the pilgrimage zone, and the Vadasserikkara panchayat has been instructed to regulate cattle movement along the roads leading to the hill shrine to prevent accidents.
Swami Chatbot
The ‘Swami Chatbot,’ launched by the district administration to assist the devotees, will soon become operational. To coordinate emergency operations, an integrated online portal titled Sabari for all government departments has also been activated, said Pathanamthitta District Collector S. Premkrishnan.
Around 1,000 cleaning workers under the Vishudhi Sena have already begun sanitation work in the pilgrimage zone. Integrated control rooms have also been opened at Nilackal and Pampa to coordinate emergency operations.
Published – November 15, 2025 08:07 pm IST
