Sabarimala stampede: Crime Branch begins inquiry

Agencies

Kumily, 17 January 2011: The crime branch inquiry instituted by the State government into the stampede at Pullumdeu near Uppupara in Idukki district of Kerala which claimed 102 lives of Sabarimala pilgrims on the Makarasankranthi day, began here on Sunday. The preliminary findings have ruled out the possibility of ‘foul play by any external agencies in triggering the stampede’ according to informed sources. The inquiry also failed to find the presence of ‘chemicals of suspicious nature’, it is learnt.

 

S Surendran, Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch), Kochi who heads the team consisting of police officers and forensic experts from Regional Chemical Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram visited the scene of accident, examined the remains of materials left by victims and questioned local people who were witnesses to the incident. They also visited the hospitals at Vandiperiyar and Kumily before taking evidence from the officials on duty at the spot on the fateful day.

 

The Commission will visit Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam on Monday to take evidence from the seriously injured persons who have been admitted there, Mr Surendran said. He said he expected get a clear picture within the next three days and hoped to submit the report this week itself.

 

 

 

Earlier in the day, A Chandrasekhar, additional director general of police (ADGP) who is in charge of security in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage also inspected the scene of accident. The crime branch inquiry precedes a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of the Kerala High Court for which the State government has decided upon.

 

Meanwhile, the meadows which witnessed one of the worst stampedes in the history of Sabarimala pilgrimage wore a desolate look on Sunday with provisions, crockery, utensils and other materials strewn all over the area. According to people still stranded in the area which lies in the interior Periyar Tigher Reserve, more than a lakh had assembled on the meadows on the day to witness the Makaravilakku, the high point of the Sabarimala pilgrimage which coincides with Makrasmkramam.

 

The entry to the meadows, marked by a check post put up by the Department of Forests also had a string of petty shops run by the Eco-Development Committees and a stall set up by the Ayyappa Seva Sanghom on either side of the road that connects Sannidhanam with Vandiperiyar.

 

According to witnesses who deposed before the inquiry commission, this nearly 30 ft wide, 100 mt long spot had to bear the pressure of the over one lakh pilgrims who were returning to Vandiperiyar after witnessing the holy Jyothi. With very few police and Forest personnel to control the mob, the stampede was unavoidable, many of them said.

 

The presence of large number of vehicles over 3000, parked on the sides of the narrow road also contributed to the situation according to some of them. The meadows lie just seven kilometres from Sannidhanam and has great vantage points to witness the Jyothi without any hassles. The area also provided them an easy access to Kumily via Vandiperiyar on their return, though the spot has not found a mention in the Sabarimala Master Plan as a spot to be developed as base camp.