Varanasi: Police commissioner Mohit Agarwal and district magistrate Satyendra Kumar on Thursday conducted an on-site inspection of Maa Annapurna Temple to review security arrangements, crowd management, barricading, parking facilities and devotees’ movement routes.
In view of the expected heavy footfall, officials reviewed preparations and issued necessary directions to ensure strong security and smooth darshan. They also interacted with temple Mahant Shankarpuri Maharaj and discussed measures for safe and convenient movement of devotees, stressing better coordination between the police and temple management. Police personnel deployed at duty points were instructed to remain alert and sensitive, strictly implement the one-way movement system and take prompt action against suspicious activity. To control crowd pressure, officials were asked to maintain special vigilance at entry and exit points, prevent unnecessary crowding and deploy additional police force wherever required. Women’s safety has been given top priority. Adequate women police personnel will be deployed at sensitive points, while women police personnel in plain clothes will also remain active. The intelligence unit will keep continuous watch on suspicious persons and activities. Officials also interacted with traders and shopkeepers near the temple and instructed them to keep roads and lanes free from encroachment and avoid placing goods on public pathways. Traders were also urged to install CCTV cameras and remain prepared for emergency situations. Concerned officials were directed to continuously monitor and regularly review security and traffic arrangements during the darshan period. All officers and personnel were instructed to discharge their duties with alertness and coordination to ensure safe, smooth and orderly darshan for devotees.
Special assistance will be provided to elderly devotees, persons with disabilities, women and children. Immediate help must be ensured in case of any emergency. Security arrangements, barricading, parking facilities and designated routes in and around the temple premises were inspected and directions were issued to further strengthen the arrangements.