Pilgrim from AP dies on way to Ayyappa temple

On Wednesday, two pilgrims from Andhra and Tamil Nadu died at Neelimala on their way to Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala due to heart attack. Over 1,400 persons have trekked the traditional Kannana route since the temple opened on November 16 evening.

Sabarimala: A 40-year-old pilgrim from Andhra Pradesh died of a heart attack at Neelimala while on his way to Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala on Wednesday, police said.

The deceased, Kameshwar Rao, who was part of a 28 -member pilgrim group from Andhra Pradesh, felt uneasy while trekking at Neelimala, one of the sacred hills to reach the forest shrine.

On Tuesday, a 29-year-old Ayyappa devotee from Tamil Nadu, who was on his way to the temple here for darshan, died of a heart attack at Neelimala.

The temple body, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) also rubbished reports that a lizard was found in a "Aravana" prasadam of the shrine.

The report was "fake" and baseless, the board said in a press release.

The effort is to bring disrepute and sabotage the peaceful pilgrim season now underway at the shrine, which is witnessing a heavy rush of devotees, the board said.

Over 1,400 persons have trekked the traditional Kannana route since the temple opened on November 16 evening.