₹6.12 cr speciality hospital to come up at Nilakkal for Sabarimala pilgrims and residents

Pathanamthitta: Kerala will establish a ₹6.12-crore advanced speciality hospital at Nilakkal ahead of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, the State Health Department announced on Monday. Health Minister Veena George said the facility will serve both local residents and the lakhs of pilgrims visiting the shrine.

The hospital, described as a major infrastructure upgrade for the base camp, will be built on land allotted by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The foundation stone will be laid on Tuesday, reported PTI.

“This hospital reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of Sabarimala pilgrims,” Minister Veena George said in a statement.

The 10,700 sq ft facility will include three outpatient rooms, an emergency wing, an ICU, a nurses’ station, an ECG room and a pharmacy. The first floor will house an X-ray room, multiple operating theatres and a scrub station. Officials said the hospital is expected to significantly strengthen emergency and routine medical support for pilgrims arriving by road at the Nilakkal base camp.

The ceremony will be held near the Nilakkal temple. Dignitaries expected to attend include Ranni MLA Pramod Narayan, MP Anto Antony, Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar, District Panchayat President George Abraham and TDB President P S Prasanth.

Thousands of devotees from India and overseas are expected to visit Sabarimala during the two-month annual pilgrimage season starting on November 17.