A large group of students from Kerala University on Thursday blocked traffic on Thiruvananthapuram MG road for almost two hours causing inconvenience to the public.

Students including those belong to SFI were seen celebrating Onam on the city's  roads. SFI students joined the celebration despite Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's diktat restricting Onam celebrations during working hours in government offices.

While making the controversial announcement Chief Minister had said such celebrations should not cause disturbance to the public. But that was  exactly what happened in Thiruvananthapuram.

An ambulance going to Thiruvananthapuram Medical college also got stuck in the traffic. The students did not relent even after a request by the police.

Both girls and boys, without any prior notice started a procession with songs and dance on the highway in front of the university.

Reportedly, some of the students carried Student Federation of India (SFI)’s flags during the beginning of the procession, and later hundreds of students rushed on to the roads, along with band sets.

Traffic was blocked for almost three kilometres.  

Police said that the students had not taken permission for the celebration, and a case has been registered against more than 1000 students.

On Wednesday, the University Registrar had released a circular restricting students and teachers’ Onam celebrations during working hours, in accordance with the government diktat.

All Photos : Sreekesh Raveendran Nair