Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister Veena George has said that the health department has formulated an action plan to provide better health services in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage.

As the covid expansion does not change completely, the action plan was formulated with that in mind as well. The government will also focus on the control and prevention of covid and other infectious diseases while ensuring the safety of pilgrims and staff. The Minister said that an action plan has been prepared for the safe Sabarimala Makaravilakku Festival as per the Central Government and State-Specific covid Protocol.

All pilgrims and staff must carry a two-dose vaccination certificate and an RTPCR certificate within 72 hours. People with other related ailments and those who have been within 3 months of covid positive should avoid Sabarimala Darshan as much as possible as it may lead to heart problems.

Pilgrims on foot from Pamba to Sannidhanam are at risk of health problems such as excessive heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, and sometimes even heart attack. The Department of Health will set up emergency treatment centers in these areas to deal effectively with such problems. Emergency medical centers and oxygen parlors will be set up at 5 locations along the journey from Pamba to Sannidhanam. There is a facility for relaxed pilgrims to relax, breathe oxygen, get first aid and check blood pressure. Trained staff nurses will be available 24 hours a day at these centers, including an automated external defibrillator for pilgrims suffering from heart attacks. If you experience any difficulties while traveling, you can seek the services of the Health Department.

Specialist dispensaries will be set up at Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilakkal, Charalmedu (Ayyappan Road), and Erumeli. There will also be an emergency operation theater at Sannidhanam. Apart from this, facilities are being provided at Pathanamthitta General Hospital, Erumeli CHC, and Kanjirapally Taluk Headquarters. Kottayam Medical College will provide better facilities for the pilgrims.

The State Health Agency has empaneled government and private hospitals in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts to ensure special treatment for pilgrims. Pilgrims with CASP cards can get free treatment from the government and private hospitals. Those without a card can seek treatment at government hospitals.

Staff, including doctors from different districts, will be deployed here for essential medical services. Specialist doctors in Cardiology, General Medicine, Orthopedics, Pornology, Surgery, and Anesthesia will be available at various centers in Sabarimala.

The director of the health department oversees all the activities at Sabarimala at the state level. The Medical Officer of Pathanamthitta District will act as the Nodal Officer in charge of the District.

Palakkad: General coaches of trains discontinued due to covid expansion will be resumed. The general coaches of the 23 special trains operating in Kerala under the Southern Railway will start from Monday, officials said. In the first phase, there will be general coaches on 23 special trains. Passengers can travel with counter tickets without reservation. The train service was resumed following a complete closure due to the expansion of covid but the general coaches were not resumed. Following this, the general coaches were resumed considering the difficulties faced by ordinary passengers.

Train number, train, second class coaches reservation excluded

06326 Kottayam – Nilambur Road, 06325 Nilambur – Kottayam (5)

06304 Thiruvananthapuram – Ernakulam

06303 Ernakulam – Thiruvananthapuram (4)

06302 Thiruvananthapuram-Shornur

06301 Shornur – Thiruvananthapuram (6)

06308 Kannur – Alappuzha

06307 Alappuzha – Kannur (6)

02628 Thiruvananthapuram – Tiruchirappalli Super Fast

02627 Tiruchirappalli – Thiruvananthapuram (4

06850 Ramaswaram – Tiruchirappalli

06849 Tiruchirappalli – Rameshwaram (4)

06305 Ernakulam – Kannur

06306 Kannur – Ernakulam (6)

06089 Dr. MGR Chennai Central – Jolarpet

06090 Jolarpet – Dr. MGR Chennai Central (6)

06844 Palakkad Town – Tiruchirappalli

06843 Tiruchirappalli – Palakkad Town (6)

06607 Kannur – Coimbatore

06608 Coimbatore – Kannur (4)

06342 Thiruvananthapuram – Guruvayur

06341 Guruvayur – Thiruvananthapuram (4)

06366 Nagercoil – Kottayam (5)

From the tenth day

06324 Mangalore – Coimbatore

06323 Coimbatore – Mangalore (4) and coaches respectively

06321 Nagercoil – Coimbatore,

06322 Coimbatore-Nagercoil 4 coaches can travel without reservation. The Palakkad Division Chief Public Relations Officer said that the trains will be charged at Main and Express rates.

Thiruvananthapuram: Admission to the Plus One First Supplementary Allotment will take place on November 1, 2, and 3. There are a total of 94,390 applicants. Minister V Sivankutty said that seats are guaranteed for everyone. Applications for school/combination transfer to the increased number of seats as per the Cabinet decision will be received on November 5,6 and the transfer allotment will be published on November 9. Transfer admission will be completed on November 9,10.

Plus One class starts on November 15th. If required, temporary batches will be sanctioned. The second supplementary allotment will be notified on November 17 and applications will be accepted till November 19. Admission will close on November 22,23,24.

Public Education and Labor Minister V Sivankutty pointed out that there are enough seats for those who want to join Plus One. He said parents and students need not worry about this.

Thiruvananthapuram: The validity of vehicle documents in the state has been extended till December 31. The validity of documents including driving license, learner’s license, vehicle registration certificate, fitness certificate, and the permit has been extended.

The earlier extension expired on October 31 in the wake of the covid expansion. The state has not yet recovered from the problems caused by the epidemic. Therefore, there was a demand from various zones for the delay in the renewal of documents under the Motor Vehicle Act. The minister said the decision was taken considering the needs of the people.

The minister also asked the National Informatics Center to make necessary changes to the Sarathi and Vahan software.