- By Deeksha Gour
- Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:51 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kerala News: The Idukki district administration has declared a local holiday on Wednesday in five panchayats ahead of the Sabarimala Makaravilakku festival. District Collector Dr Dineshan Cheruvatt issued the order considering the heavy traffic expected due to the movement of Ayyappa devotees.
The holiday will be observed in Kumily, Vandiperiyar, Peermade, Peruvanthanam and Kokkayar panchayats. Officials said large-scale vehicle movement could disrupt school travel and increase the risk of road accidents.
Kerala: Exams And Residential Institutions Exempted
The holiday will not apply to residential educational institutions where students stay on campus. Authorities have also clarified that previously scheduled examinations and interviews will go ahead as planned.
To compensate for the loss of classroom time, the Collector has instructed school heads to arrange alternative learning methods, including online classes, wherever possible.
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Kerala: Pathanamthitta Also Observes Holiday
Earlier, the Pathanamthitta district administration had declared a holiday on Wednesday in view of the Makaravilakku festival, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims to the Sabarimala temple.
In separate news, a 56-year-old lawyer died in a accident after a firearm discharged when his scooter slipped and toppled in Kerala’s Kottayam district, police said on Tuesday. The incident occurred near Neerurutti in Uzhavoor around 9 PM on Monday. The victim, identified as Okkattu Joby, reportedly lost control of his scooter while riding downhill. During the fall, a gun he was carrying was accidentally triggered and the bullet struck him on the head, killing him instantly. Locals alerted the police, who reached the spot soon after. The Kuravilangad police have registered a case and launched an investigation.