The Pampa Manalpuram on the foothills of Sabarimala has been once again flooded, with the Kerala State Electricity Board releasing more water from the Pampa and Kakki reservoirs of the Sabarigiri hydroelectric project on Monday.
The base camp of Pampa, especially the bathing ghats and the Pampa Manalpuram that house toilet complexes, hotels, and shops, has been damaged in the floods. The Travancore Devaswom Board has cautioned pilgrims against crossing the swollen river.
In a statement on Monday, the TDB appealed to the pilgrims to avoid their trip to Sabarimala for Wednesday’s Niraputhari fete in view of the flood situation in the Pampa. The pilgrims will have to brave strong currents in the heavily flooded river to reach the Sannidhanam.
Both the bridges across the Pampa have been inundated, isolating the Pampa Manalpuram from the mainland.
TDB president A.Padmakumar advised the pilgrims against undertaking the pilgrimage till the floodwaters receded.
The KSEB had to open the shutters of the Kochu-Pampa, Kakki, and Moozhiyar dams as the inflow has taken the water level far above the full reservoir level. The police will erect barricades and stretch ropes across the river. Steps will be taken to turn back the pilgrims who reach Pampa despite the warnings issued by the TDB.
A team of the Fire and Rescue Services and the police will help the Tantri and Devaswom employees cross the river for proceeding to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Tuesday for the Niraputhari fete to be performed on Wednesday, sources said.