Sabarimala pilgrims stranded as traffic chaos grips Kerala shrine route

Pilgrims heading to the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala have faced severe traffic delays, with many stranded on approach routes for several hours as congestion mounted during peak pilgrimage season. The gridlock, primarily affecting the Nilackal-Pampa stretch, has sparked frustration among devotees and drawn complaints from religious organizations.

State officials have attributed the traffic crisis to ongoing road maintenance work along the main pilgrim corridor, which has reduced lane capacity at critical junctures. Compounding the problem is an insufficient fleet of KSRTC buses to manage the surge in visitor numbers during this period, forcing many pilgrims to rely on private vehicles and creating bottlenecks at key checkpoints.

The situation has prompted demands for better coordination between public works and transport departments ahead of peak pilgrimage windows. Sabarimala, one of India's most visited temples, attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees annually, particularly during the pilgrimage season, making infrastructure management critical during these periods.

Local authorities have been urged to expedite road works or implement temporary measures to facilitate smoother traffic flow. Transport officials are reportedly exploring options to deploy additional buses and establish alternative routing to alleviate congestion on the main pilgrim route.