Elaborate security arrangements have been laid out to ensure safety in the rivers ahead of Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh.
Water police personnel have been deployed for constant monitoring of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. They will be helped by ultra-modern equipment that includes underwater drones and sonar systems. Lifebuoys and Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) speed motorboats will assist well-trained water police personnel in dealing with any kind of disaster.
Around 2,500 personnel have been deployed to keep the waters safe. They are on duty, by rotation, 24 hours of the day. While they will be monitored by the integrated control room of the water police, 17 sub-control rooms have also been set up in the mela area.
The manpower will be increased before the start of the Mahakumbh on January 13. About 1,300 more police personnel will be added.
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Water security has been bolstered by 8 kilometres of deep water barricading. Two floating rescue stations have been built and personnal manning it will be able to respond to emergencies in a few minutes.
The 11 FRP speed motor boats, each of them a six-seater, will patrol the Sangam area at all times. Besides, there are four water ambulances which will be able to step in during emergencies to provide immediate relief. There are also 25 rechargeable mobile remote area lightning systems. Four motorboats with changing rooms will also float around the Sangam area constantly.
A two-kilometre long river line, which demarcates the upstream from downstream, will help in river traffic control.
Other equipment includes 100 diving kits, 3,000-plus life jackets, 415 rescue tubes, 200 throw bags with ropes, and 29 tower light systems.
Rajiv Narayan Mishra, Inspector General of Police in- charge, PAC (Pradeshik Armed Constabulary), said, "Our effort is to make the Mahakumbh 100% incident and accident-free".
