Shravani Mela: GRP directed to manage crowd, curb chaos

PATNA: Ahead of the Shravani Mela from July 1 to August 9, the police headquarters has asked the government railways police (GRP) to prioritise crowd control and security arrangements, drawing lessons from last year’s stampede at New Delhi railway station.

- Avinash Kumar

The GRP, a senior official said, had decided to provide extra security cover to kanwariyas (pilgrims) participating in the fair.

Devotees from across the nation, and also from neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Nepal, reach Sultanganj (Bhagalpur) to fetch holy water from the Ganga for a trek on foot to Baba Baidyanath Temple at Deoghar in Jharkhand to offer the water to Shivling.

Kanwariyas start their 105-km journey on foot to Deoghar, via Bhagalpur, Munger and Banka (the major part of trek routes falls in Banka) districts. During this period, it is expected that over 25 lakh devotees will visit Sultanganj (Bhagalpur) and pass through Bihar for Baidyanath Dham at Deoghar and Basukinath Dham at Dumka.

The PHQ directed the Rail SPs of Patna, Muzaffarpur, Katihar and Jamalpur to monitor law and order situation, crowd control, snatching, theft and maintain peace with constant vigilance.