Rameswaram decked up for Kalam's visit

Chennai, Sep 20: The tiny island of Rameswaram, the home town of President A P J Abdul Kalam, is gearing up for the visit of the son-of-the-soil on September 23.

During his three-day hectic tour of Tamil Nadu from September 22 to 24, Dr Kalam would be visiting Rameswaram on September 23, his second visit after becoming the first citizen of the country.

His first visit to his house was on August 27, 2004.

Even as the family members were making all arrangements to accord a grand reception, police too were busy in providing a tight security cover to Dr Kalam.

As a precautionary measure, the Mandapam refugee camp, housing more than 10,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, would be sealed on September 22 and 23 in view of the proposed visit of the President.

Ramanathapuram District Collector K S Muthuswamy reviewed the security arrangements at a high-level meeting and said the Mandapam camp would be sealed.

''No one will be allowed to leave the camp and the fresh refugees arriving from Sri Lanka will be taken to Police Stations'', he said.

Even fishermen were asked not to venture into the sea on September 23 as a precautionary measure, official sources said. Though there was no official function, Dr Kalam was expected to be in his home town for nearly two to three hours. He would meet his elder brother at the ''House of Kalam'' and was expected to visit a Mosque (which was about a furlong distance from his residence), where he used to offer worship right from his childhood days.

A pandal was being erected in front of his house where Muslim Jamaat leaders would accord a reception to the visiting dignitary.

The entire island was being given a facelift. Finishing touches were being given to the school where Dr Kalam studied and at Abul Kalam Azad Dargah where he was expected to visit.

The administration of the ancient Ramanathaswamy Temple was also gearing up as Dr Kalam might pay a visit to the historic temple.

More than 1000 police personnel would be deployed on security all along the 23 km route from Mandapam in the mainland to Rameswaram.

Police personnel would also be deployed on the 2345 metre long historic Pamban Bridge connecting the mainland to the island.

Three helipads were being readied in Mandapam for the chopper carrying the President to land.

All patrolling vessels of the Navy and the Coast Guard have been asked to step up vigil along the coast and at sea.

UNI