Police have stepped up security on beaches, river and canal bunds and at temples, particularly at Shivalayams, during the ongoing Kartika Maasam.
After the stampede at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Kasibugga in Srikakulam district on November 1, which claimed nine lives, officials are focussing on crowd management at shrines.
With heavy rush expected at Shiva temples on Kartika Somavaram on November 10, officials reviewed the arrangements and security at all the temples. Drones will be pressed into service to monitor the crowd at beaches and shrines, the police said.
“We issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all temples in Guntur district. Security will be enhanced at queue lines, prasadam counters and annadanam areas,” said Guntur district Superintendent of Police (SP) Vakul Jindal.
“Officers have been instructed to conduct security audit and intensify patrolling along the river and canal bunds as many devotees will take holy dip,” Mr. Vakul Jindal told The Hindu on Saturday (November 8).
