Tight security arrangements for Maha Shivaratri in Varanasi

, Feb 26: Elaborate security arrangements have been made in view large number of devotees visiting Kashi-Vishwanath temple here on the occasion of Maha Shivratri festival tomorrow, police said today.

An additional police force including eight additional SP (Superintendent of Police), 15 Circle Officers, 155 Sub-Inspectors, 75 head constables, 1000 constables, 125 Lady Sub-Inspectors and constables from 10 districts of the range have been deployed along with the police officials from Varanasi district, Inspector General of Police (IG range Varanasi) Prakash D told PTI.

Metal detectors and CCTV cameras have also been installed in the temple premises

Eight companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and two platoons of flood company have also been deployed for better security.

River police with divers have been stationed at the ghats. "More than 5 lakh devotees are expected to visit the Kashi-Vishwanath temple on the day. Last year about 4 lakh devotees visited the temple and this time we are expecting a rise in their numbers," he said.

Special arrangements have been made for the smooth movements of devotees, sign boards at various diversions are being fixed and a temporary cloak room has been been set up at Godwalia, he said.

The officer said the area around the temple has been declared 'no traffic zone' and vehicular traffic would be prohibited from midnight. Metal detectors and CCTV cameras have also been installed in the temple premises and outside. The IG denied any kind of threat inputs by the intelligence agencies on the day, as reported in a section of media. He said an alert has been sounded to avoid any untoward incident such as stampede.

PTI