The High Court of Kerala has called upon the state government to, if necessary, issue guidelines for the Sabarimala pilgrimage during its monthly puja opening, considering the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode district.
The court has directed the Commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to convene discussions with the Health Secretary and reach a decision on this matter. The Sabarimala hilltop shrine, located in Pathanamthitta district, traditionally opens its doors for pilgrims for a span of five days each Malayalam month. In the current month, it is scheduled to welcome pilgrims on Sunday. Meanwhile, the state government has apprised the court that restrictions have been enforced in the northern Kozhikode district.
A new case of Nipah virus infection was confirmed in Kozhikode on Friday, bringing the total number of infected individuals in the state to six. The state has recorded two
fatalities thus far.