At least 12 pilgrims who were on a pilgrimage to Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala on Wednesday went missing in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala.
An additional three men who were sent by police to look out for the pilgrims for the police have also gone missing.
Initial reports claimed two vehicles parked in the Triveni parking lot floated away while 100 vehicles drowned as Pampa river started overflowing its banks owing to the heavy rainfall in the region for the two days.
District authorities have restricted movement of pilgrims from Pampa to the shrine at 'Sannidhanam' and the practice of taking a holy dip in the river has also been forbidden till the rain subsides.
ADGP K. Padmakumar told Manorama online, "Police have also been instructed to restrict vehicles of pilgrims at Pathanamthitta and Erumely.”