700 cops regulate crowd, drones and CCTV cameras deployed

Ranchi: Around 700 personnel from district police and the Jharkhand Armed Police force were deployed in order to regulate crowd and maintain law and order during the 10-day Rath Yatra festival at Jagannath temple in Ranchi on Tuesday.
Drones and CCTV cameras were also used to keep a tab on crowd. Besides, a watch tower was installed at a strategic location. Two control rooms were set up at Niladri Bhawan and Government Middle School near the temple.
Sources said scores of people from various parts of the state and outside thronged the road that the chariot took between the temple and Mausi Bari to witness the annual spectacle.
Ranchi SSP Kishore Kaushal said, “A strict vigil was kept on anti-social elements on the occasion and public address system used to give direction to people.”
New traffic arrangements were put in place in view of the festival and the fair. The traffic department set up drop gates and sliding barriers at 16 places around the main temple to regulate the movement of vehicles.
Vehicles coming from Birsa Chowk, Dhurwa and Ring Road in connection with the festival were parked at Saheed Maidan, Prabhat Tara and Ring Road. Movement of cars, autorickshaws and bikes were prohibited from Tiril More to Mausi Bari roundabout, Saheed Chowk to Mausi Bari roundabout and Prabhat Tara to Jagannathpur Bazaar.
Vehicles which were to move from Ring Road towards the town, were made to pass by Tiril More, JSCA stadium, Prabhat Tara and Shalimar Bazaar. Those moving towards the Ring Road from Dhurwa had to go through Shalimar Bazar, Prabhat Tara ground, North Gate and Naya Sarai.