Sabarimala (Kerala), Dec 25 (Agencies): At least 40 pilgrims were injured, three of them seriously, in a stampede at the Sabarimala temple on Sunday night after a barricade gave way in the huge rush, authorities said.

State Devasom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that the situation has been brought under control.

"All the medical attention is being given to the injured and the situation is fully under control," Surendran told reporters at the temple.

According to the temple authorities, with Monday being a key day in the two-month-long Sabarimala festival, there was an unprecedented rush of devotees on Sunday and the incident occurred when the sanctum santorum of the temple was opened late Sunday evening.

To control the crowd, police had set up barricades but on account of the huge rush, the barricade broke and caused a stampede, in which the pilgrims got injured.

The temple authorities swung into action and the injured were moved to the local hospital while the three who suffered serious injuries have been moved to the Kottayam Medical College hospital.

The mishap occurred just as the holy 'Thanga Angi' procession carrying the ornaments that is to be adorned on Lord Ayyappa on Mandala pooja tomorrow had reached the temple this evening.

The procession starts from Aranmula Sree Parthasarthy temple, four days prior to the Mandala pooja.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said there was heavy rush of pilgrims at the shrine when the 'thanga angi' procession arrived.

He was at the temple shortly before the stampede and had left the shrine after the 'deeparadhana' (evening prayers) with the Thanga Angi.

The minister said he was on his way to the hospital.

Police are restricting the movement of pilgrims from downhill Pamba to Sannidhanam because of the heavy rush.