Sabarimala: 13 inebriated pilgrims arrested

Thirteen pilgrims, who came to the famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa here to offer worship allegedly in an inebriated state, have been arrested, police said today.

The pilgrims, who were picked up from different places including Nadapandhal, Mallikapuram and near the 18 holy steps, were carrying the 'irumudi' offerings to be made at the Ayyappa shrine, when they were arrested, police said. All the pilgrims hail from Kerala.

The devotees are required to follow 41-day fast prior to the pilgrimage and abstain from consuming non-vegetarian food, alocohol and tobacco.

Meanwhile, a 55-year-old Sabarimala pilgrim from Andhra Pradesh died of a cardiac arrest at a hospital here.

Markandaya Ugrala died at 4.45 am, a press release said.