Pune: Ahead of the annual Ashadhi Wari procession, the Alandi Municipal Council has appealed to devotees, residents and warkaris not to enter the Indrayani river as its water levels have risen significantly and the river is flowing with strong currents.The advisory comes as thousands of devotees have started arriving in the temple town of Alandi to participate in the annual procession, one of Maharashtra’s largest religious gatherings. Civic authorities said the appeal has been issued as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents during the pilgrimage period.“We urged pilgrims to refrain from entering the river for bathing or any other purpose and to strictly follow safety instructions. We have also asked devotees to respect barricading arrangements and comply with directions issued by police personnel, disaster management teams and volunteers deployed along the riverbanks,” chief officer Madhav Khandekar of AMC told TOI.Most of the devotees take a holy dip in the Indrayani River, and hence the advisory remains crucial to prevent any untoward incidents. The council regularly reports drowing incidents throughout the year, said the officials.“The water level in the river has increased, and the flow is strong. To ensure the safety of all devotees and citizens, no one should attempt to enter the river,” he added.Officials said extensive safety arrangements have been put in place in view of the large influx of pilgrims expected during the palkhi departure on July 9.Teams from the municipal council, police department, revenue department, disaster management and volunteer organisations have been deployed to manage crowds and respond to emergencies.
