Sabarimala, Nov 20 (NationPress) The pilgrimage site in Kerala continues to experience a significant surge of devotees on Thursday, with many waiting as long as 12 hours for 'darshan', despite attempts to manage the flow of visitors.

Approximately 65 pilgrims are reported to be ascending the sacred 18 steps every minute. In response to directives issued by the High Court earlier this week, the Travancore Devaswom Board has set a limit of 75,000 daily darshan.

Spot bookings have been restricted to 5,000 until Monday, and officials have been instructed to rigorously enforce the virtual queue system to handle the influx.

The initial wave of the Mandala-Makaravilakku season on Tuesday revealed critical flaws in crowd management and essential facilities.

Over one lakh pilgrims have flocked to the hill shrine, resulting in queues stretching several kilometers, along with complaints about drinking water availability, sanitation, and insufficient resting areas.

Although crowd control measures were attempted, they fell short of accommodating the overwhelming numbers.

Upon reviewing the situation, the Kerala High Court criticized officials for their lack of preparedness, questioning the absence of coordinated planning at least six months prior.

The Court noted that there was no reason for such disarray so early in the pilgrimage season and emphasized the need for strict adherence to booking guidelines.

It has been mandated that entry via the virtual queue system should only be permitted six hours before and up to 18 hours after the scheduled darshan time without exception.

On Wednesday, 80,615 devotees participated in darshan, including nearly 20,000 who entered through spot bookings—four times the allowed amount.

This led to chaotic conditions, causing congestion in critical areas such as Sannidhanam and the trekking path.

Pilgrims voiced concerns regarding inadequate drinking water supplies and delays in medical assistance.

As the Mandala-Makaravilakku season progresses, authorities are under immense pressure to refine digital booking methods, enhance coordination on the ground, and avert a repeat of Wednesday's chaos.

The Board has committed to prompt corrective measures, while the High Court has cautioned that compliance will be closely monitored.

An unnamed state minister informed IANS that this unprecedented influx of pilgrims was orchestrated by certain factions to create chaos, coinciding with the upcoming two-phased local body elections.

“There are numerous entry points to the temple located on a hill, and not all of these are supervised. Individuals aiming to incite confusion directed pilgrims through unmonitored access points, resulting in this massive influx,” said the minister, who wished to remain anonymous.