Shravani Mela: GRP directed to manage crowd, curb chaos

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 neigh-bouring 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 Deo-ghar, 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 (Bha-galpur) and pass through Bihar for Baidyanath Dham at Deo-ghar and Basukinath Dham at Dumka.

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