In a move towards ensuring foolproof security during this Shravani Mela in Deoghar starting on August 1, district administration is to deploy more security forces than the last year in and around the temple premises. Additional teams of National Disaster Response Forces (NDRF) will also be present there to deal with any untoward situation during the festive season.
“We are ensuring that adequate number of police forces be deployed this time. In fact deployment of more security forces this time will be done than the last year to avert any untoward situation during the month-long Shravani Mela,” said Deoghar SP P Murughan.
Refusing to divulge the number of security forces to be deployed this season, Murughan informed that their deployment at all the strategic locations will be completed by July 23. Shravani Mela 2015 begins on August 1 and ends on August 30.
“In addition to that State police, companies of Rapid Action Force, Jharkhand Jaguar, Bomb Disposal Squad as well as quick response teams will also be deputed by July 23,” said Murughan. Separate arrangements have been made for the smooth movement of traffic during the festive season, added the SP.
Route-lining of the police deployment was being done with the installation of CCTV cameras at all vulnerable points across the city. “As many as 50 CCTV cameras are being installed across the temple premises as well as on the routes through which people will be entering the city,” said Deoghar DC Ameet Kumar.
To deal with any emergency like situation one company of National Disaster Response Force will also deployed along with the Shivgnaga, added the DC.
For a hassle-free darshan for the devotees, a new system of online booking has been introduced by the district administration for upcoming Shravani Mela. The online booking for the ‘darshan’ will be opened one or two days before the Shravani Mela. The devotees can make online bookings for darshan on the website www.babadham.org. As many as 500 people will be allowed for online for a separate queue for darshan.
In addition to that, the DC added that a new system of 'Bahya Argha' has also been introduced to deal with heavy crowd where the devotees can put in the holy water to the 'shivlinga' from outside through an extended pipe without entering into the temple.
Shravani Mela is observed throughout the month, considered to be auspicious for Hindus. The Shravani fair begins at Sultanganj in Bihar. Here the devotees take holy water from the Ganga, putting it on Baba Baidyanath in Deoghar. lakhs of devotees visit the temple every year during the month of Sawan.