Ayyappa Seva Sangham to open pilgrim camps

SABARIMALA: The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham will open pilgrim camps on the traditional Azhuthakadavu- Valiyanavattom route on December 20.

Sangham secretary N Sreenivasan said on Tuesday after chairing a high-level meeting that the camps at Azhuthakadavu, Kallidamkunnu, Karimala and Valiyanavattom would start functioning by December 20.

The camps would offer free food, resting place, medicated drinking water and free medical assistance to the pilgrims, he said.

At the Karimala camp, the construction of a temporary shed for distributing free food and resting place is nearing completion, he said.

The pond, the source of water for the camp, has already been cleaned and pump sets will be installed soon, he said.

The transportation of rice and other ingredients for the supply of free food are almost completed. The volunteers to be posted at the camps have already been recruited, he said.

The work on Valiyanavattom camp, the biggest on the traditional path, is progressing well, Sreenivasan said.

NSS free medical centre: The Mannam Memorial NSS Medical Centre at Sannidhanam started functioning on Tuesday. Two doctors and seven para-medical staff members will function round-the-clock. The camp will also offer free medicines to the pilgrims.