No pvt vehicles for Makaravillaku: IG

KOCHI: Inspector General of Police K Padmakumar said that no private vehicles would allow to enter Pullumedu during Makaravilakku festival at famed hill shrine of Sabarimala. Talking to reporters here, he said keeping in view safety of Ayyappa devotees, except official vehicles, no other would be allowed to enter the area. Those who wanted to visit the shrine to witness the famed 'Makarajyothi' should go walking. These measures were taken on the recommendations of Retired High Court Judge M R Hariharan Nair, who enquired into the Pullumedu tragedy in Sabarimala, he said. He also said all recommendations made by the commission would be followed and sufficient lighting facilities provided as it was main lapse leading to the 2011 tragedy as pointed out in the report. Besides, sufficient barricades would be installed at six important places in Idukki, including Pullumedu, to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies as large number of devotees was expected to witness the Makarajyothi, he added.