Kolkata, Oct. 9 -- The state government and police administrations have finalised extensive security and logistical arrangements across major ghats on the banks of River Hooghly for Mahalaya, as lakhs of devotees will be offering 'tarpan' on Saturday.

On Friday, Ajay Nand, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Kolkata in presence of Siddh Nath Gupta, the Director General of Police (DGP), and Subrata Gupta, the Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister, reviewed the arrangements at ghats on the banks of Hooghly. Before commencing the checking, Nand said: "We are checking the police arrangements and the situation of the ghats. Also, we are checking the ghats where immersion of idols take place."

According to an order published from the office of the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, all the Superintendents of Police (SP), Commissioners of Police (CP) along with local bodies have been directed to ensure cleanliness and proper sanitation while the police along with the Disaster Management and Civil Defence department, Fire and Emergency Services department and Transport department have been directed to stay alert at all times devotees offer 'tarpan'.

It has been ordered to keep motorised boats ready with trained divers, safety equipment and rescue equipment at every major ghat from 3 am on Saturday. Besides, the concerned authorities have been instructed to ensure devotees don't venture into deep water.

These apart, the police administration across the state have been specifically directed to deploy adequate police personnel, including women cops, at all ghats for crowd management and to regulate traffic movement. The Health and Family Welfare department will set up camps equipped with first-aid facilities at all the major ghats.

Alongside the spot arrangements, control rooms must be active at all the districts till the completion of the occasion. The State Emergency operation Centre at Nabanna will remain operational where the district administration shall report any untoward incident.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.