Velliangiri man dies; sixth fatality since February 25
The sixth devotee fatality on the hill in thirty-five days since February 25th occurred in Velliangiri on Saturday night, involving a sixty-year-old devotee.
Named after him was D Raguraman, a Mogappair West inhabitant in Chennai. Around 5:00 p.m., members of the Boluvampatti forest range reported that they had got information that he had been discovered unwell close to the Sitha Vanam on the fifth hill. With the aid of dholi carriers, a group of volunteers and forest employees hurried to the scene and carried him to the foothills. However, the medical center’s evaluation resulted in his death. According to sources, he suffered from diabetes and passed away from heart arrest while descending the hill shrine after making his prayers.
For a postmortem, the corpse was sent to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. Police in Alandurai filed a complaint. So far, up to six individuals have lost their lives on the hills. Reports of the first fatality date back to February 25. The forest department sent out a warning to anybody planning to climb the slopes last Monday.
According to the advisory, Velliangiri Hills is one of the most challenging trekking routes in Tamil Nadu. It is recommended that individuals with heart disease, breathing difficulties, diabetes, obesity, and those who have received treatment for COVID-19 undergo comprehensive screenings prior to ascending the hills. Adherents were also advised to hike the slopes in groups rather than by themselves.
It is dangerous to transport deceased persons or sick individuals downhill via difficult terrain. Before ascending the Velliangiri Hills, everyone should heed the recommendations, according to the advise.
In the meanwhile, authorities declared that anybody wishing to climb the slopes would have to provide an obligatory statement of fitness.
Sources claim that the adjustment was never put into effect because forest authorities said it is almost impossible to get permission from everyone when thousands of people are congregating in the foothills. Alternatively, they recommend limiting the number of adherents by allowing just a certain number of individuals to register online or on a specified day. Then, they said, it would also be feasible to check their health.
Official data shows that eight individuals died in 2023 and thirteen perished in the hills between February and May of 2022.
