Allahabad: Choppers to keep an eye on Kanwar yatras

ALLAHABAD: This Shrawan, Allahabad’s airspace would be dotted by choppers keeping a vigil on kanwariyas as they begin their journey to offer ‘jal’ collected from Sangam to Lord Shiva at the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.
Allahabad police have demanded choppers from UP Police for air surveillance of kanwar yatras on each Monday of Shrawan this year.
Every years, lakhs of kanwariyas collect water from Sangam and walk to Varanasi to perform ‘jalabhishek’ and offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple during Shrawan.
A network of 528 CCTV cameras, three drones, automatic vehicle number plate recognition system and 14 variable message display boards would be used as part of security arrangements for kanwar yatras at Dashashwamedh ghat, Daraganj, Sangam and Jhunsi.
DIG (Allahabad range) KP Singh said, “We expect a huge turnout of kanwariyas over the next few days and have sought a chopper for air surveillance.”
He said that a company of Indo-Tibetan Border Police, two units of Provincial Armed Constabulary and a unit of Jal Police would be deployed for the safety of Shiva devotees.
The DIG said that more police teams have been stationed at critical locations on Allahabad-Varanasi highway, between Jhunsi and Handia.
Between Dashashwamedh ghat in Daraganj and Handia, 800 policemen would be deployed for security.
A new traffic plan for heavy and commercial vehicles will also be enforced to regulate vehicular movement during Shrawan. According to the plan, commercial vehicles plying on the New Delhi-Kolkata route would be diverted via Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, Rai Bareli and Chanduali till August.
Vehicles from Kolkata and heading towards New Delhi would be allowed to pass through Handia on Allahabad-Varanasi on NH 2 only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. While returning, these vehicles will not be able to access the same route on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.