Thousands of devotees visiting the Angalamman temple at Melmalaiyanur in Gingee taluk have urged authorities to improve basic amenities, saying many are forced to sleep on roadsides without safety due to inadequate lodging facilities.
The temple draws daily crowds from Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, with footfall rising sharply on new moon days, the Maasi car festival and Aadi Fridays. On Aadi Amavasai (August 12), devotees said more than three lakh people arrived from early morning until midnight.
With the surge, pilgrims reported a shortage of toilets and said existing facilities lacked modern features and were poorly maintained, causing hardship. They also complained of insufficient drinking water after standing in long queues under the sun, and said over 25,000 people waited near the Oonjal Mandapam from 5 pm to midnight.
Devotees also flagged safety concerns, stating that some visitors from out of town had to stay in open areas until dawn due to the absence of a large accommodation complex. They alleged that roadside sleepers faced harassment, including water being poured on them and verbal abuse, even in the presence of police.
Traffic management and medical preparedness were also cited as urgent needs. With thousands of vehicles arriving during festivals and limited parking, congestion was reported on Valathi, Vadapalai and Avalurpet roads, with delays on Vadapalai road lasting until 3 am. Devotees said a woman fainted during the Oonjal festival and there was no stretcher or first-aid team at the spot, prompting calls for on-site medical teams and mobile units along key routes, along with a long-term plan by the HR&CE department and the government.
