VADODARA: Planning to venture out for catching a glimpse of Ganesh pandals in the city? Then mask up and maintain safe distance in crowded areas as you will be under the watch from up above. In a bid to ensure that Covid-19 guidelines are followed strictly, the city police have decided to use drones during the Ganesh festivities.
While the cops have been using drones on the day of Ganesh immersions for the last few years, this is the first time that they will be operated for all the 10 days of the festival.
“We have given permission to a limited number of Ganesh pandals and asked the organizers to follow Covid norms. But the police need to be on alert too. This year, we have decided to deploy drones, especially in the Walled City,” said Shamsher Singh, city police commissioner.
“During the festival, people will be on the roads and it is not possible to keep an eye on every nook and corner in some areas. The drones will help us monitor the main roads as well as interior lanes. If we spot large crowds gathering at some spot, our team will immediately reach there and urge people to follow Covid norms,” Singh told TOI.
Police have been given a high-resolution drone that can be put on auto mode too. This drone has a high-vision camera that can zoom in on faces and hover around for a long time. If a route is fed in its system, this drone moves around on its own and gives live feed of the happenings around. The police said that it also hires several other drones from the local firms. On the day of Ganesh immersion, many drones will be deployed in the old city, the police said.
“We have also formed several teams that will monitor the areas where Ganesh pandals have been installed. People should wear face masks when out in public places and follow Covid protocols,” Singh added.
