Ranchi: The Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL) has assured residents that power supply will remain uninterrupted across the city during Muharram processions on Saturday.Manmohan Kumar, general manager of JBVNL Ranchi Supply Area, said, “If safety guidelines are followed, there will be no need to cut off electricity supply.”Kumar said that officials will be stationed at all major locations and will accompany every procession. The teams will monitor compliance with safety norms and remain ready to act immediately in case of an emergency.The discom has also issued a comprehensive safety advisory for organisers and the public. According to guidelines, the maximum height for tableaus, vehicular sound systems (DJs), and tazias has capped at 4 m (13 ft) from the ground.The directive stated that “no person should sit on the roofs of buses and other large vehicles, nor should any tall material/tall tazia be placed on them, so that the total height from the ground does not exceed (13 ft)”.Organising committees have also been instructed to deploy an adequate number of volunteers. The discom said that during the procession, volunteers walking alongside the procession will maintain continuous, special vigilance over the public so that no accident occurs due to negligence or mistake.Kumar said, “People must not try to touch or make contact via sticks or any other medium with electricity poles, wires and other electrical equipment along the route.”More than 200 committees from across the city are expected to participate in Saturday’s Muharram processions. The processions are scheduled to commence at 11 am, with participants converging at Milan Chowk on Lake Road before proceeding towards Karbala Chowk.This follows a Muharram procession taken out on Friday, which started from Vikant Chowk, passed through Kali Mandir, Wool House, Fatteullah Road and Vikant Chowk, before culminating at Karbala Chowk. To facilitate the event, the operation of private and passenger vehicles was prohibited from Ratan PP Chowk towards Albert Ekka Chowk, along with strict restrictions from Karbala Chowk towards Kali Mandir and towards Wool House.Schools to remain closedRanchi deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri on Friday ordered that all govt, non-govt, aided and private schools in the district will remain closed on Saturday for Muharram. However, schools scheduled to conduct pre-planned examinations may do so, only if absolutely necessary, after providing prior intimation to the district education officer (DEO). The district administration has appealed to all school managements, parents and the public to extend their full cooperation to ensure that Muharram is observed in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.
