Devotees won't be allowed to climb T'malai hill for deepam

THE Tiruvannamalai district administration has decided to prohibit people from climbing up the Arunachala Hills in Tiruvannamalai for 11 days from December 13 to 23, including the Mahadeepam festival day on December 13, considering the safety of devotees.

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Around 45 lakh devotees are expected to visit Tiruvannamalai for the deepam festival this year.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, HR and CE Minister PK Sekarbabu said an expert committee appointed to conduct a field study of the hill, where seven people died in a recent landslide, has advised the government not to allow a large number of people to ascend the hill.

The eight-member committee headed by Geology and Mining Commissioner E Saravanavelraj inspected the hill and submitted its report to the government on Tuesday, and Chief Secretary N Muruganandam chaired a meeting regarding the issue.