SABARIMALA

PULLUMEDU TRAGEDY
Save and Serve the families of
102 Ayyappas died
in stampede on 14.01.2011

Donate liberally
PULLUMEDU RELIEF FUND
Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam
 Pulmedu Uppupara after the stampede
A Malikappuram Amma search for his son and relatives at the
Kumali Hospital where the dead bodies lied.
Victims of Pullumedu Stampede
Pullumedu is an auspicious site of utmost
emotional importance in the sacred
Sabarimala Poonkavanam. One among
the eighteenhills that form the
Poonkavanam, Pullumedu is only seven
kilometers away from Sabarimala. About
three fourth of the total pilgrims tothe hill
shrine trek to Sabarimala by this forest
route.
The Maharaja of Trvanacore, the Raja of
Pandalam and the Raja of Poonjar had
chosen the Pullumedu route to visit
Sabarimala from very old days. The route
has attained a place in the hearts of
Sabarimala pilgrims for reasons of faith
and also history.
In the tragedy that occurred at Pullumedu
on the makaravilakku day, on January 14,
2011 at around 8 pm, 102 Ayyappa
devotees died in an unprecedented rush
and the resultant melee. More than fifty
were injured. The condition of many of
those injured is critical.
The hills at Pullumedu are the tallest. With
no trees around, the entire Poonkavanam
area including Sabarimala temple,
Ponnambalamedu, Pamba River,
Saramkuthi, Malikappuram is clearly
visible from this vantage position. It is
therefore only natural that the devotees
throng to Pullumedu. The holy kite -
Krishnaparundu - circling the sky while
Thiruvabharanam, the ornaments of the
Lord are brought in procession to
Sabarimala, ascending the eighteen steps,
Pathinettam padi with Thiruvabharanam
and the subsequent Deeparadhana were all The 102 unfortunate Ayyappa
viewed in total devotion amid chanting of
devotees who lost their lives are our
Saranamanthram on the day of
Makaravilakku. Within a few
own brothers. Even while struggling
minutes the celestial light for breath in the stampede, they were
appeared at holding close to their chests, the
Ponnambalamedu, the irumudikkettu they were carrying,
Moolasthanam of Sree chanting Saranamanthra, their
Ayyappa. The entire concern was that the irumudikkettu
atmosphere should be in tact, receiving every hit
reverberated with the for themselves. They have, therefore,
shouts of ‘Swamiye turned immortal.
Saranam Ayyappa’
by three lakh odd
devotees
assembled at
Pullumedu. With
their hearts
sobbing and
minds fully
satisfied by the
darshan of Makarajyothi and Makaravilakku, the Ayyappa devotees started
their return journey from the hilltop.
As the rush thickened several devotees on the return journey fell down one
after another. Those who fell down were run over by the thousands in the
rush. The tragedy took the toll of 102 lives.
Neither there was power supply nor water supply. Also no safety measures
or arrangements for relief work. All these added to the misery and the fury.
Most of those who lost their lives belonged to economically and socially
weaker sections. Their families have been orphaned. Most of those dead
were the main pillars of their families, leaving behind penniless wives and
children, girls to be married off and houses with construction unfinished.
Those left behind do not know to go ahead in the days to come. Many students
have been forced to discontinue studies. Some families are on the verge of
being evicted for having failed to pay rent.
The 102 unfortunate Ayyappa devotees who lost their lives are our own brothers. Even while struggling for breath in the
stampede, they were holding close to their chests, the Irumudikkettu they were carrying, chanting Saranamanthra, their concern
was that the irumudikkettu should be in tact, receiving every hit for themselves. They have, therefore, turned immortal.
Let us pay our homage to the great souls. Let us share the grief of their families. Let us pray for them.
In order to help the families of the victims of the Pullumedu tragedy, the Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam is mobilsing a
Relief Fund. The fund was formally inaugurated in the divine presence of Bhagavatha Hamsam Sri Malliyoor Sankaran
Namboodiri, by Hon’ble Minister for External Affairs Sri. S.M.Krishna. The maiden donation to the Relief Fund
was received by Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam General Secretary Sri. Kummanam Rajasekharan.
In the name of Swami Ayyappa, liberal contributions to the Relief Fund and all cooperation to attempts to rehabilitate the families
of the Pullumedu tragedy are sought.
In the service of Swami Ayyappa,
M.N.Sukumaran Nambiar, Kummanam Rajasekaharan
Chennai. (President) (General Secretary) 09447970315

Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam

Central Office, Pathanamthitta, Kerala - 689 645. Ph: 09447137323
NB Please draw cheque/ demand draft in favour of Pullumedu Relief Fund, Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam, Pathanamthitta,
Kerala. SB A/c No. 0121-001-00136856 IFC Code DLXB 0000121 Dhanalakshmi Bank, Pathanamthitta.




The fund is formally inaugurated in the divine presence
of Bhagavathahamsam Sri Malliyoor Sankaran
Namboodiri, by Hon’ble Minister for External Affairs
Sri. S.M.Krishna at Kottayam. The maiden donation
to the Relief Fund was received by Sabarimala
Ayyappa Seva Samajam General Secretary Sri.
Kummanam Rajasekaharan. Bishop Mar Crisostem
of Marthoma Church, Sri M.P. Veerendra Kumar
Foremer Minister Shri. Monci Joseph are seen.


Shri K.G. Jayan(Jayavijaya) inaugurates the condo-
lence meeting to pay homage to 102 Ayyappas light-
ening 102 lamps at Pandalam in the presece of
Pandala Raja, Sabarimala Thanthri, Sanyasins and
various Hindu leaders on 3.2.2011


APPEAL
Swami Saranam
We remember with profound grief the demise of 102 Ayyappa devotees in Pulmedu Stampede on
the Makara Vilakku day. Another 50 are injured and still under treatment. We pray that the departed
souls rest in peace. We share the sorrow of their family members.
Many families are still in the shock of losing their kith and kin. Many of the dead were the sole bread earners of thier
families. It is the duty of every devotee to extend all help and support to the families of those victims who lost their lives for
no fault of theirs. We have to support these familes in their basic needs of education, job, housing and marriage. Sabarimala
Ayyappa Seva Samajam is forming a relief fund for such families. We, the undersigned request every devotee to donate
liberally to this fund as an expression of solidarity to the victims. May Lord Ayyappa bless all.
Chief priest of Sabarimala Thantri Kantararu Mahadevararu, Thanthri Kantararu Rajivaru, Pandalam Raja
Revathi Thirunal Ramavarmaraja, Pandalam palace President Vishakam Thirunal Ramavarmaraja,
Malliyoor Sankaran Nampoothipapad, Paravoor Sridhara Thanthri, Ambalappuzha Petta Periyon Chandra
Sekharan Guruswami, Swami Sandeepanandagiri, Swami Vedananda Saraswathi, Thanthri Vezhapparambu
Chithrabhanu namboothirippad, Akhil Bharata Ayyappaseva Sanghom Vice President D. Vijayakumar, Ayyappa
Singer K. G. Jayan (Jayavijaya), Kanyakumari Vivekanada Kendram President Sri. P. Parameswaran.
fairprint, Kochi -17

Pullumedu Relief Fund

Sabarimal Ayyappa Seva Samajam, Central Office, Pathanamthitta, Kerala - 689 645 Phone : 09447137323
S B. A/c No: 0 1 2 1 - 0 0 1 - 0 0 1 3 6 8 5 6, I F C Code : D L X B 0 0 0 0 1 2 1
Dhanalkshmi Bank, Pathanamthitta.