Security stepped up at temples, beaches during Kartika Maasam

Police have stepped up security on beaches, river and canal bunds and at temples, particularly at Shivalayams, during the ongoing Kartika Maasam.

After the stampede at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Kasibugga in Srikakulam district on November 1, which claimed nine lives, officials are focussing on crowd management at shrines.

With heavy rush expected at Shiva temples on Kartika Somavaram on November 10, officials reviewed the arrangements and security at all the temples. Drones will be pressed into service to monitor the crowd at beaches and shrines, the police said.

“We issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all temples in Guntur district. Security will be enhanced at queue lines, prasadam counters and annadanam areas,” said Guntur district Superintendent of Police (SP) Vakul Jindal.

“Officers have been instructed to conduct security audit and intensify patrolling along the river and canal bunds as many devotees will take holy dip,” Mr. Vakul Jindal told The Hindu on Saturday (November 8).

Instructions have been given to police officers to monitor CCTV camera footages on beaches and temples round-the-clock on Kartika Somavaram, said West Godavari district SP Adnan Nayeem Asmi.

“Vehicle and foot patrolling has been arranged on Perupalem beach and on Godavari river bunds at Narsapuram, Achanta and other places,” Mr. Adnan Nayeem said.

Police visited the Pancharama Kshetrams — Sri Someshwara Janardana Swamy temple at Bhimavaram and Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy temple at Palakol — and discussed arrangements for devotees during Kartika Maasam with the Endowments Department officers, the SP said.

Expert swimmers will be deployed at bathing ghats as a precautionary measure, said NTR District Police Commissioner S.V. Rajashekar Babu.

Eluru district SP K. Pratap Shiva Kishore said pickets have been arranged at Sri Veerabhadra Swamy temple (Pattiseema temple) on Devakuta Parvatam in the Godavari river.

“Security has been tightened at all boating points along the river banks,” Mr. Pratap Shiva Kishore said. At Manginapudi beach, police were seen cautioning the devotees through public addressing systems and monitoring the situation through drones in Krishna district.