Lack of coordination between various depts: HC

Lack of coordination between various depts: HC

Kerala High Court has observed that there was lack of coordination between various departments, causing the Sabarimala stampede in which 102 pilgrims were killed, as the police, forest dept. and the temple Board indulged in a blame game in their reports on the tragedy.

A division bench, comprising Justices Thothathil B Radhakrishnan and P S Gopinathan on Thursday made the observation after three separate reports by DGP Jacob Punnose, Travancore Devaswom Board Commissioner N Vasu and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests T M Manoharan came up before it.

The reports were filed in compliance with the deadline by the court which had on Monday pulled up the state government over neglecting its earlier warnings over safety.

The bench on Thursday wanted to know why Pullmedu near the hill shrine was out of the zone of consideration for providing adequate security to pilgrims.

It also directed the Union Government to inform its views on permitting pilgrims through Pulmedu in Iddukki district, part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

The bench directed Assistant Solicitor General T P Ibrahim Khan, to file a counter affidavit on this and possibilities of permitting temporary use of required land in the sanctuary for 'Makara Vilakku' festival.

Advocate General C P Sudhakara Prasad told the court that Home secretary's report would be filed by Friday.

The DGP claimed in his report that adequate police force was deployed at Pullmedu, with 279 policemen, including two DYSPs, on duty to regulate the crowd. There was no light on the spot of occurrence of the mishap, he said.

About 1400 passes were seen given by the Forest department to three wheelers and four wheelers.

There was no place marked for parking. Around 1.25 lakh devotees gathered at Pullmedu by evening, he said.

He said there was an accident involving an autorickshaw and a jeep. The three wheeler fell on the jeep parked nearby. Since there was flow of pilgrims, this caused further tripping and in the commotion, many fell down.

There was a heavy flow of pilgrims even at that point of time, he said. He claimed sufficient police personnel had been posted in the area to deal with problems of "such a great magnitude."

Travancore Devaswom Board Commissioner, N Vasu, in his report said at no time in the past or now was the Board (which manages the shrine) given permission to provide facilities to pilgrims at Pullmedu.

This is not an 'edathavalam' (approved resting place for pilgrims), TDB counsel submitted.

Pointing out that neither sufficient police nor forest officials were present to control or guide pilgrims, it said dispute between autorickshaw and jeep drivers caused chaos, ultimately resulting in the stampede.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, T M Manoharan, in his report claimed the forest department had taken all safeguards.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the state Government has decided to set up a special team of officials for handing over solatium of Rs six lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.

The relief payment would include Rs 5 lakh from the state government and Travancore Devaswom Board along with Rs one lakh from the Prime Minister's relief fund.

The injured would get Rs 75,000 with the state's component being Rs 50,000.

Most of the deceased were from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, he said, adding, a special team will handover the solatium.

A meeting of higher-ups of various departments for working out plans to enhance the safety of pilgrims and avoid recurrence of mishaps at Sabarimala and Pampa would also be convened, the Chief Minister said.