Ahmedabad: The city is gearing up for the 147th annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, scheduled for July 7. This significant event draws lakhs of devotees and will see the deployment of over 22,000 security personnel to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the procession, an official announced on Thursday.
In light of the recent stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in the tragic loss of more than 100 lives, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik emphasised the heightened focus on crowd management. During a press conference following a review meeting with nearly 600 police officers, Malik detailed the extensive security measures being put in place.
To enhance security, police will employ face detection cameras to identify criminals by matching faces in the crowd with their database. Additionally, 20 drones and several balloon-mounted cameras will monitor the movement of people throughout the event.
The security apparatus will include companies from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rapid Action Force, alongside 35 companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP). Each company typically consists of 80 to 90 personnel.
"More than 22,000 security personnel will be deployed along the Rath Yatra route and other crucial locations on July 7," stated Malik. This force comprises 12,000 regular police officers, 6,000 Home Guards, 11 CAPF companies, and 35 SRP companies. Out of these, 4,500 personnel will accompany the procession along its entire 16-km route, while 1,931 will manage traffic.
To prevent stampedes, barricades will be strategically placed to control the flow of people, who will be divided into manageable batches. Senior police officials will oversee the procession using 1,733 body-worn cameras connected to a control room. Furthermore, nearly 1,400 CCTV cameras installed by shopkeepers along the route will provide live surveillance.
Live feeds from the Rath Yatra will be streamed to the police control room, a special control room at the Circuit House, the DGP office, and the Chief Minister's office in Gandhinagar. An official release on Wednesday mentioned the installation of 20 drones and 96 surveillance cameras at 47 locations along the route.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the security preparations in a meeting attended by Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi and Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay. Malik's detailed presentation covered various security aspects of the event.
To address any medical emergencies, 16 ambulances and medical teams at five government-run hospitals will be on standby. Seventeen help desks will be established along the route to assist citizens.
The Rath Yatra, led by chariots, will commence at approximately 7 am from the 400-year-old Lord Jagannath temple in Jamalpur and conclude around 8 pm, passing through various localities in the Old City, including communally sensitive areas. The procession traditionally includes 18 decorated elephants, 100 trucks, and 30 'akhadas' (local gymnasiums).
As per tradition, members of the Khalashi community will pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra, and sister Subhadra. Lakhs of devotees are expected to gather along the route to witness the deities. PTI
Published: 04 Jul 2024, 04:51 pm IST
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