PRAYAGRAJ: A large posse of 3,500 police personnel, including mounted cops, has been roped in to turn the Magh mela campus into a fortress for the Mahashivratri snan – last bathing of Magh Mela - on Tuesday, when around five lakh devotees are expected to take the holy dip across six ghats.
While reviewing the security plan for the holy snan on Monday, mela police also brought measures to stem traffic snarls ahead of and during the ritualistic bathing.
Mela police claimed to have set up a separate entry and exit points for devotees as well as a diversion plan for heavy and commercial vehicles, restricting their entry into the city at eight static points. The 47 days Magh mela will culminate on Tuesday after the Mahashivratri snan.
SP (Magh Mela) Dr Rajiv Narayan Mishra told TOI that additional police pickets have been set up to manage parking along different routes leading to Sangam. “In order to ensure smooth final rituals, the mela police have coordinated with officials of other departments for better sanitation facilities, and amenities at six ghats,” he added. SP said that frisking visitors and checking vehicles were also part of the elaborate security arrangements made for the Mahashivratri snan. “Police teams are frisking individuals and checking cars on the eve of Mahashivratri at various locations, including ghats. A comprehensive traffic management plan is also in place,” he said. As more city based devotees are pouring in for snan, the mela police are also conducting frequent patrolling on foot. Senior officers are reviewing arrangements.
Divisional commissioner (Prayagraj) Sanjay Goyal said that elaborate arrangements are in place at all the ghats for devotees. He added that a total of 650 toilets have been setup on mela campus and devotees will also get the facility of mobile toilets to maintain cleanliness.Besides, covid help desk and ambulance service will also be available.
Importantly, security has been reviewed at prominent city shrines including, Mankameshwar mandir, Dashashwamedh temple (Daraganj), Shivkoteshwar, Someshwar Mahadeo (Naini), Shivala (Katra), and Nagbasuki. Duties of male and female policemen in both uniform and plain cloths have been assigned to regulate the flow of devotees who are also expected to throng the special aarti and abhishek.
