Chennai, October 1 (IANS) more than 3,500 police personnel will be deployed to ensure the safety of millions of devotees, who hopes to visit the famous Mutharamman temple in Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu on 2 October, which coincide with the Dusshra Mahotsav.
Announcing a detailed arrangement on Monday, Thuthukudi Superintendent of Police (SP) Albert John said that the force is carrying forward monitoring and mob control measures, recently attracting lessons from big trays like Karur stampede.
To manage heavy influx of vehicles, parking features have been expanded with additional 50 acres, which complements the current 200 acres capacity. Three temporary bus stands have also been installed to reduce the congestion and facilitate smooth transit for pilgrims.
For the first time, the District Police will deploy automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera and vehicle counting cameras at major entry points – Sithunganalur, Udangudi, and Athor.
“These cameras will help us count vehicles, record their registration numbers, and plan parking more efficiently,” SP John said, saying that the setup will be temporary but highly effective for mob management.
CCTV coverage in the festive region will be doubled compared to previous years. In another major security initiative, a separate control room has been established in real -time to monitor crowd movement and traffic.
Two drones will provide air monitoring to identify obstacles, dense areas and traffic build-ups, enabling immediate intervention by the ground forces. Devotees will also get assistance through a newly launched AI-Inspector Chatbot for the festival.
The chatbot will provide effective updates on drinking water availability, parking space status, toilet and bus stand instructions, and alerts on traffic variations or congested areas.
Additionally, special committees have been formed to oversee the “wonderful paddle” cultural performance, in line with the court’s instructions with the aim of preventing pornographic materials.
SP John assured that security and convenience have been given priority this year. He said, “We are committed to manage the crowd on a large scale responsibly and avoid congestion, keeping in mind the lesson from other recent tragedies,” he said.
With advanced technology and careful plan, the Roothukudi police expected this year’s Sorasmaram to safe, smooth and well, who arrived for a grand Dussehra ceremony for thousands of devotees.
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Aal/DPB