Madurai: Screen pilgrims at Meenakshi temple parking lot, say residents

MADURAI: Residents and traders near the Meenakshi temple at Ellis Nagar in Madurai have urged the district administration to screen people at the temple’s parking lot, who arrive in large numbers from many districts and states, and go unmonitored.
The demand comes after Madurai district collector had announced that people without vaccination certificates would not be allowed into public places from this week.
“Vehicles like buses with pilgrims which come in organised pilgrimages are parked in the Ellis Nagar parking lot. The visitors use it as a small picnic spot. It is worrisome because they don’t wear masks and spend a lot of time in the shops nearby,” said a trader.
K Ganeshan, who runs an idly shop said that the pilgrimage was stopped for the past two years, but this year, the numbers though low now would go up as the season advances. “What is worrying is that while people coming in trains and flights are being screened, those coming in large crowds on pilgrimages are not screened,” he said.
Senthil, a resident of Sarvodaya Salai, said that the visitors come to residential areas, rest under trees and eat there. They need to be screened. “Since they usually do not wear masks, we are double masking while going out of our homes,” he said.
City health officer, Dr S Raja said that screening of the pilgrims at the parking lot would be carried out.