PATHANAMTHITTA: About 100 pilgrims were feared dead in a stampede at Uppupara, between Pullumedu and Pandithavalam, in Idukki district on Friday night. Official reports put the death toll at 86, majority of them from neighbouring states. The mishap occurred around 8.15 pm. More than 70 were injured.

The toll is likely to go up as full-fledged rescue operation is yet to start in the hilly region. Darkness, traffic jams and lack of communication facilities also hamper rescue operations. The place is beyond the reach of mobile services.

The dead include Korukkutty (60), from Vengara in Malappuram district. It has been learnt that there were about 3 lakh pilgrims at Pullumedu. Those dead belong to Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The pilgrims were returning home after viewing Makara Jyoti at famous Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple. Many of the injured has been taken to hospital at Vandipperiyar. The dead bodies have been brought to Vandiperiyar hospital and Kottayam Medial College Hospital.

The tragedy occurred when a jeep carrying some pilgrims waded into a crowd of devotees, who were returning from the Makara Samkrama Pooja, through a narrow trekking path in a forest, district administration sources said.

When the jeep turned turtle, it triggered the stampede as the pilgrims ran helter-skelter, the police said. Many injured persons have been admitted to nearby hospitals.

Most of the pilgrims involved in the tragedy were from Tamil Nadu who were returning to their homes to celebrate Pongal after having a darshan of the deity at the hill shrine.

The accident spot was identified at about 50 km away from Sabarimala. As per initial estimates, nearly 1.5 lakh pilgrims had left by this route for home.

Thousands of devotees had turned up for worship at the hill shrine during the Makara Samkrama Pooja on Friday evening, marking the finale of two-month pilgrimage to the famous Lord Ayyappa temple.

They were returning after witnessing Makara Jyoti, held as a divine light by the devotees, which flickered across the eastern horizon above the Ponnambalamedu after the pooja. State Dewasom minister, Kadannappalli Ramachandran said poor light and the huge mass of people at the site were hampering rescue efforts.

State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said he had asked the DGP to rush to the scene. "Home secretary is already in Pampa and I have asked the SPs and District Collectors of Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts to help with rescue efforts," Balakrishnan said.

Defence Minister A.K Antony said army would be sent for rescue operations. The incident has been declared as a National Tragedy.

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