Sabarimala: The off-road ambulance service of the Travancore Devaswom Board recently came in handy for saving the life of a pilgrim during the arduous trek up to Sabarimala.
During the last monthly rituals, a pilgrim who was trekking up Appachimedu collapsed due to a cardiac ailment. The off-road ambulance personnel could take him and rush to the hospital without any delay, thus helping save his life.
The facility, which was launched on an experimental basis, thus proved to be successful. In case of any medical emergency while on the steep slope of the Neelimala path, the off-road ambulance service can be availed by pilgrims.
During the trek, many pilgrims usually develop uneasiness and cardiac problems while trekking up through the steep Neelimala and Appachimedu sections of the path winding through forest. The offroad ambulance can move easily from Marakkoottam to the top part of Appachimedu.
New path to ease trek
A new, granite-laid pathway is being readied by avoiding steps completely and reducing the difficulty of the steep climb. The works are being carried out for 2.7 km from Pamba to Sannidhanam, at an outlay of Rs 11.75 crore under the Central Government’s pilgrim tourism project. The works of laying granite slabs from Marakkoottam to the top part of Appachimedu are complete. The remaining works are on in the 1.2 km stretch between Pamba and upper part of Appachimedu.
More than 100 years ago, steps were laid along the Neelimala-Appachimedu section of the trek using funds raised by the devotees in order to minimize the difficulty of the trek at this part.
Later, after acquiring forest land for the development of Sabarimala, the path was widened and concreted while retaining the steps laid earlier. At present, granite slabs are being laid all along this pathway by completely removing the old steps and the concrete way here.
The pilgrims have restrictions to pass through this path as the development works are in progress now.
A few pilgrim groups have raised complaints that the climb is more along the Neelimala path, but the Devaswom Board clarified that the pilgrims may find it difficult to walk through as construction material has been heaped up along the way.
