Andhra Devotee’s Death Prompts Safety Curbs at Tiruvannamalai Moksha Margam
Soon after the incident, another video went viral showing a woman devotee from Andhra Pradesh allegedly getting stuck in the same passage, triggering fresh concerns over the safety of pilgrims
Authorities have installed iron barricades and warning signs at the Idukku Pillaiyar Temple along the Tiruvannamalai Girivalam route following the death of a devotee who became trapped inside the temple's narrow cave-like passage, also known as Moksha Margam.
The temple, located near the Kubera Lingam shrine - the seventh of the eight Ashta Lingam temples on the Girivalam path - is administered by the Arunachaleswarar Temple. It is known for its unique cave-like entrance, where devotees enter through a narrow rear opening and exit from the front after offering prayers.
The safety measures come days after D Manikumar, a devotee from Andhra Pradesh's Rajahmundry, died after allegedly getting stuck inside the passage while performing the ritual with his family on the night of July 24. He is believed to have suffocated after becoming trapped in the narrow space.
Soon after the incident, another video went viral showing a woman devotee from Andhra Pradesh allegedly getting stuck in the same passage, triggering fresh concerns over the safety of pilgrims.
Following appeals from social activists, the district administration directed the Arunachaleswarar Temple authorities to implement safety measures.
A notice board installed at the temple now states that overweight persons, elderly devotees and those with health conditions will not be allowed to enter the cave passage because of its extremely narrow entrance.
The temple administration has also welded two iron bars at the entrance, creating a fixed-width gap. Only devotees who can comfortably pass through the opening between the bars will be permitted to enter the cave-like passage, in an effort to prevent similar incidents.
