Reports suggest that the Sabarimala pilgrimage zone appears to be witnessing a rise in excise cases since the temple’s reopening for the Makaravilakku season.
Sleuths from the excise department have been conducting extensive raid across the region.
Over 80 cases have been registered against 16 raids that have been carried out at Pampa. Total fines amounting to ₹16,600.
At Nilackal, 72 cases were reported from 33 inspections, yielding ₹14,400 in fines.
Similarly, 16 raids at the Sannidhanam led to 40 cases and fines amounting to ₹8,000.
Excise teams checked eight hotels and seven labour camps at Pampa, while 16 hotels and 11 labour camps were inspected at Nilackal.
At the Sannidhanam, nine labour camps were scrutinised.
In the first three days (December 30 to January 1) after the Sabarimala temple for Makaravilakku pilgrimage, the excise department has been proactive.
Moreover, Sabarimala darshan will be based on spot bookings in the upcoming days.
The reason is that the virtual queue bookings up to the 16th have been exhausted.
Virtual queue bookings can be made by 70,000 people per day. But the bookings for all the days up to the 16th have been exhausted.
The Devaswom Board had planned to have spot bookings for 10,000 people per day.
In the past few days, spot bookings have exceeded 22,500.
It has been learnt that over one lakh pilgrims are visiting the temple every day.
There is still no shortage of rush. The situation is that one has to wait for at least 8 hours to climb the 18th step.
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