Mega Campaign for Security and Facilities in Bhagalpur; Every Movement to be Monitored via CCTV
Bhagalpur: The Bhagalpur district administration has geared up for the upcoming Shravani Mela. To ensure the safety and convenience of the devotees and Kanwariyas (pilgrims) of Lord Shiva, the district administration and the Municipal Corporation have begun preparations on a war footing. Given the massive influx of pilgrims expected, it has been decided to make security and public amenities significantly more robust and organized in the fairgrounds this year.
'High-Tech' Surveillance via CCTV
To make security arrangements impregnable, high-resolution CCTV cameras will be installed along the entire route and at key points near the Ganga ghats. According to the district administration, these cameras will be directly linked to a control room, where police officers will maintain constant vigilance. This will enable immediate tracking of any suspicious activity and assist in crowd control.
Barricading and Smooth Traffic Management
To keep the lines of pilgrims organized, sturdy barricading is being arranged along the fair route and the paths leading to the ghats. This will help prevent situations like stampedes. Additionally, separate parking areas have been designated for vehicles to ensure that congestion does not occur on main roads. Learning from the experiences of previous years, the administration has also planned to lay down a dedicated 'red carpet' for the Kanwariyas, which will provide relief to pilgrims walking barefoot.
Special Focus on Drinking Water, Lighting, and Sanitation
Solid arrangements for lighting will be made on the fair premises and the routes leading to the Ganga ghats so that Kanwariyas do not face any difficulty in movement during the night. Along with this, arrangements for clean drinking water for the Kanwariyas, temporary toilets, and the deployment of additional sanitation workers for cleanliness will be ensured. The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has been instructed to make adequate sources of drinking water functional along the ghats and the routes.
Strict Instructions to Officials
The District Magistrate has made it clear that any kind of negligence during the Shravani Mela will not be tolerated. Officials from all concerned departments have been instructed to ensure that all arrangements are completed before the commencement of the fair. The Health Department has also been kept on alert so that medical facilities can be made immediately available to the pilgrims in case of any emergency.
The main objective of the administration is to make the pilgrimage pleasant, accessible, and safe. Considering the sea of devotees that gathers in Bhagalpur during the month of Shravan, the administration has prepared a comprehensive action plan this year, ensuring that not only security but also sanitation and amenities are fully addressed.
