Temporary ban on Sabarimala pilgrimage lifted
The Hindu
The water levels have gradually begun to recede since the morning of November 20 but the authorities are expected to wait for the water flow to stabilize before lifting the ban on trekking
In view of the improving whether conditions and a consequent fall in the water inflow through the Pampa, authorities have decided to lift the temporary ban on pilgrimage to the hill shrine.
Officials said devotees would be permitted in batches to the hillock. The decision follows a review of the flood situation in the Pampa by the Sabarimala ADM Arjun Pandyan.
Earlier, district collector Divya S. Iyer said that the pilgrims who had booked via the virtual queue system will be given the opportunity for darshan in the nearest possible slot once the weather conditions improve.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.