Considering several instances when the pilgrims on foot have been mowed down by speeding vehicles along highways, particularly on Palani Road, the home guards took this precautionary measure, Balaji Raju, Area Commander of Home Guards, Coimbatore District, said.
Stating that several hundred pilgrims every year walked to the destination temples halting intermittently for cooking and to take rest, he said since the roads were not illuminated during nights and wee hours, the devotees were prone to accidents.