No VIP pass for Ambubachi Mela

Fresh entry will be restricted from 12 O’ clock at night till 5 am. Administration also restrains devotees from open bathing in the turbulent Brahmaputra.

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, June 19: The grand opening of the Ambubachi Mela is just two days away. As such, the Kamrup (M) district administration has come to end its preparation to make the Mela an error-free celebration. The speculation is strengthened as the Kamrup (M) district Deputy Commissioner Virendra Mittal shared with media persons on Tuesday that the administration is all set to deal with lakhs of devotees supposed to throng the Mela.

Mittal informed the media that this year, the administration will not provide separate VIP entry passes. Rather, ASTC buses will be kept in order to ease the transportation of visitors. Moreover, the buses will keep plying from the Temple premise to the Kamakhya Rotary point at a regular interval of time for senior citizens. He further informed the media that the ATDC will track the numbers visitors by using laser. “After 12 O’ clock at night, no visitor will be allowed to enter the Temple premise”, he added.

Mittal highlighted that, this year, instead of Sonaram School Playground, designated camps will be set up at Old Jail Campus, Fancy Bazar, Kamakyha Railway Station, Maligaon, Pandu, Machkhowa, Naharbari Field and Bohripara School Field.

At the same time, Police Commissioner Hiren Chandra Nath said that the police have chalked out a detailed security plan for the ensuing Ambubachi Mela. “Altogether 2000 security personnel will be deployed in and around the Temple premise, including the NCC and Scout and Guides. We have categorically divided 14 different sectors. The officers at the rank of SPs will be positioned in 6 sectors while the ASPs will monitor the remaining sectors. Throughout the Mela, the security measures will be assisted by CRPF, Assam battalion and Commandos. Moreover, to avert possible untoward happening, security personnel will also present in different strategic corners in civvies,” Nath said. Meanwhile, keeping in mind the overflowing Brahmaputra river, Nath said that the devotees are strictly restricted from bathing in the river bank and added that the River Police and NDRF personnel will be deployed to monitor the situation.