Bhagalpur: With preparations gathering pace for the month-long Shrawani Mela, the Bhagalpur district administration on Monday carried out a review of arrangements at Ganga ghats, Lord Shiva temples and designated Kanwar routes to ensure a safe, smooth and pilgrim-friendly festival.The Shrawani Mela will be held from July 30 to Aug 28. According to official estimates, around 50-55 lakh devotees are expected to arrive at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur to collect holy Ganga water before undertaking the nearly 105-km barefoot pilgrimage to the Lord Shiva temple at Deoghar in Jharkhand for ‘jalabhishek’ on the Shivalinga.The administration also reviewed measures to ensure the safe movement of the massive inflow of pilgrims through the Bailey bridge on Vikramshila Setu, where traffic remains restricted following the collapse of an RCC section of the bridge. Safety arrangements at major Ganga ghats also came under focus.Special attention is being paid to the security and convenience of pilgrims arriving from different states as well as neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Nepal, who begin their pilgrimage from Sultanganj.Bhagalpur district Magistrate Alankrita Pandey conducted a detailed inspection from Babupur Ghat to Budhanath, Bhootnath Temple Ghat, Barari Ghat, SM College Ghat and other Ganga ghats. She also inspected Lord Shiva temples in the city to review arrangements for the annual pilgrimage.SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav, municipal commissioner Kisalay Kushwaha, ADM (disaster management) Kundan Kumar, Sadar SDO Vikas Kumar and officers from various departments accompanied the DM during the inspection. The team also reviewed the Kanwar route leading to Deoghar, and the DM issued necessary instructions to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims.During the inspection, the officials assessed the cleanliness of the ghats, condition of stairways, crowd movement, lighting, security arrangements, barricading, drinking water supply, toilets, control rooms, disaster management preparedness and other essential facilities. The DM directed all departments to complete the required works before the commencement of the mela.She also instructed officials to ensure cleanliness at river ghats, temple premises, toilets and pilgrim routes, remove encroachments, repair and level ghat areas and trekking routes, and strengthen security.The DM directed officials of the Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation, power distribution company, health department, PHED, disaster management department and police administration to work in close coordination so that all arrangements are completed on time.Joint director, IPRD, Nagendra Gupta said, “A coordinated approach has been undertaken to ensure safe, hassle-free and pleasant pilgrimage for the devotees.”
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