Bhubaneswar: With thousands of elderly women devotees (habisyalis) expected to visit Puri during the holy month of Kartika, beginning Monday, police have made elaborate security and crowd management arrangements to ensure their safety and facilitate smooth darshan at Jagannath Temple. The habisyalis will observe sacred Kartika Brata from Monday until Nov 24.Puri SP Prateek Singh said police personnel have been briefed on error-free crowd management inside Jagannath Temple, traffic regulation, security at govt-designated habisyali accommodation centres and special needs of elderly devotees.IGP (central range) Satyajit Naik reviewed the arrangements and stressed the need to ensure safety and comfort of women observing the month-long religious ritual, besides maintaining orderly movement of pilgrims inside the shrine.On Sunday, police personnel inspected three govt-designated accommodation facilities where habisyalis would stay. Five platoons of police forces would be deployed round the clock at these centres to prevent untoward incidents, monitor movement and ensure security of devotees.More than 20 platoons of police forces would be deployed across Puri for various duties, including temple security, crowd control and traffic regulation. Additional measures include help desks and special assistance for elderly women.“We have strengthened security arrangements in and around the temple. Personnel would ensure smooth movement of devotees and prevent overcrowding in the temple,” said SP Singh.Barricades have been erected inside and outside the temple, including near all four gates, to regulate the flow of devotees and prevent congestion during darshan. Motorcycle patrols would keep watch on the temple’s surroundings and sacred ponds across the town.The Puri SP said a control room would monitor the overall security and coordinate with personnel deployed in the field to ensure a prompt response to emergencies.Police are also coordinating with Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the district administration to manage accommodation, food and transportation for habisyalis during their stay.Singh said officers have been directed to remain vigilant and ensure that devotees could perform darshan without inconvenience. Traffic personnel would regulate vehicles around the temple to minimise congestion and facilitate movement of pilgrims.“Ensuring safety and convenience of devotees visiting the temple and other sacred sites during Kartika is our priority. We appeal to everyone to maintain peace and discipline and cooperate with the police,” Singh said.
