Medical camp opens for Sabarimala pilgrims in Kumily

The Kumily grama panchayat has opened a medical camp to provide healthcare facilities for Sabarimala pilgrims during the Makaravilakku season.

The camp, located in the Forest Office building in Kumily town, was inaugurated by Kumily grama panchayat president M.M. Varghese on Tuesday. It will provide allopathy, ayurveda, homoeopathy, and siddha treatments, said Kumily panchayat secretary R. Ashok Kumar.

“The camp will function until the Makaravilakku festival. it will operate 24 hours a day. Thousands of pilgrims use the Kumily route, and this camp will provide significant relief to them,” said Mr. Kumar.

The opening follows a recent directive from Idukki District Collector Dinesan Cheruvat. While the Forest department initially objected to the facility, permission was granted following a meeting on Sunday between Mr. Varghese and Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) East Deputy Director P.U. Saju.

Relations between the local body and the Forest department have been strained recently, with the department blocking the installation of temporary toilets for pilgrims at the Sree Dharma Shasta Temple, near Kumily, and seizing equipment intended for the work.

According to sources, after repeated obstructions, the District Collector warned Forest officials that the administration would invoke the Disaster Management Act to ensure the installation of essential medical and sanitation facilities.

Meanwhile, Mr. Varghese sent a letter to the Chief Minister and the Forest Minister stating that the local body is struggling to arrange parking and other essential facilities for Sabarimala pilgrims due to repeated objections from the Forest department.

Recently, the District Collector directed the department to open the Anavachal ground for temporary parking. However, the department blocked the move, claiming that a Supreme Court order prohibits such actions.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mr. Cheruvat. stated that he found no such court orders, and that the department has not provided a copy of any such ruling. “I have sent a letter to the government requesting that parking be allowed on the Anavachal ground during the Makaravilakku season. I hope the government will issue a clear directive to the Forest department regarding this,” said Mr Cheruvat.