Overview
- Authorities limited total daily entry to 100,000 and restored the spot‑booking cap to 20,000, with new counters at Nilakkal and regulated movement to Pamba.
- The High Court directed scientific crowd control with sector‑wise limits, sought carrying‑capacity data, and demanded affidavits from the state and TDB by Friday.
- Court‑mandated upgrades include hundreds of bio‑toilets, uninterrupted drinking water along routes, help desks with polyglot staff, 200 rooms reserved for online booking, and a public grievance portal within roughly three weeks.
- On‑ground reinforcements include NDRF teams, additional personnel, queue complexes offering water and light meals, and 200 sanitation workers brought in to maintain facilities.
- The rush led to a 58‑year‑old woman’s death in the queue and a Karnataka pilgrims’ bus mishap with minor injuries, as opposition parties pressed for accountability and Karnataka sought coordination for its devotees.