Pathanamthitta: In an unusually blunt public intervention, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President K Jayakumar on Monday expressed serious concern over the “dangerous level of crowding” at Sabarimala and ordered immediate corrective measures after incidents of heavy congestion were reported at the Lower Thirumuttam and adjoining areas.

His reaction comes amid an unprecedented early-season rush and repeated complaints from pilgrims about long waiting hours.

Addressing the media, Jayakumar said the situation was “not acceptable under any circumstances” and questioned why the crowd had been allowed to build up to such risky levels.

“Such a crowd should not have formed here. Why did this happen? It should not happen anymore,” he said, confirming that a formal letter has already been sent to ADGP S Sreejith seeking an investigation into the lapses.

He noted that the congestion was especially surprising given that such heavy footfall has never been recorded on Vrischikam II in recent years. “We must understand where the system failed,” he added, calling for an immediate course correction.

A major concern flagged by Jayakumar is the underutilisation of queue complexes—built to prevent exactly this kind of crowding. According to him, pilgrims are avoiding these spaces because the facilities are insufficient.

“If devotees are provided more than just biscuits, they will sit inside. They should be made comfortable. They should be made to sit, and allowed out only when their turn comes,” he said.

TDB has now directed officials to improve food, water, and seating arrangements inside the complexes and issue repeated announcements encouraging devotees to move in.

There are nearly 20 queue complexes between Marakoottam and Saramkuthi, capable of accommodating 500–600 people at a time.

Jayakumar said a coordinator will be appointed to oversee these centres and ensure orderly movement.

Drinking water and food have been arranged, and 200 additional staff have been deployed to distribute water to devotees who have been waiting for more than four hours.

Given the rising crowd at Pampa, Jayakumar warned that restrictions would soon be imposed at Nilakkal to regulate inflow. Spot booking—already overwhelmed on the first day itself—may also face tighter limits.

Seven new booths will be opened at Nilakkal to manage the rush, but the TDB chief emphasised that spot booking cannot be eliminated. “Without spot booking, it is impossible to maintain control,” he said.

Jayakumar also acknowledged reports from the Special Branch about pollution in the Pampa River and announced that 200 workers from Tamil Nadu will be deployed for intensive cleaning.

In a candid assessment of the current system, he said that if 80–90 devotees are not able to climb the 18 sacred steps every minute, the bottleneck becomes unmanageable. He confirmed that the Central forces would be contacted if the situation demands additional assistance.

While the police have maintained that the situation is under control, Jayakumar’s sharp reaction underscores the urgency felt by the TDB.

With the season only just beginning, his message is clear: the crowd cannot be allowed to reach dangerous levels again, and accountability has to be fixed before the rush intensifies further.