Flammable items banned at Dalma shrine

Jamshedpur: Officials of the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday banned devotees from carrying flammable items atop the hilltop Shiva shrine on Mahashivratri. The move, they said, was aimed at preventing forest fires in the sanctuary which could be triggered by items such as cigarettes, beedis and firecrackers.
While the devotees cannot carry matchboxes, they can light up candles, incense sticks or diyas (lamps) at the temple, DFO Saba Alam told TOI. Forest guards will be deployed at all the three entry points into the sanctuary for screening the devotees, he said.
"The restrictions aim to protect wildlife and vegetation across the 193 sq km sanctuary area. Provision will be made at the temple for lighting diyas," Alam said.
Three camps have been established at Makulackocha, Fadulgora and Pindrabera entrances to support and help devotees and visitors. It is a 19 km journey to the hilltop shrine from Makulakocha, officials said.
Additionally, five-person monitoring teams will be stationed at 12 key locations along the temple route to supervise festival crowds.
DFO stated that 15 patrol teams will guide devotees and provide emergency first-aid assistance. The patrol teams will also ensure visitors do not engage in activities that could endanger themselves or wildlife.
Forest officials will collaborate with the village eco committee (VEC) for crowd management.Devotees from the city and nearby towns including Seraikela, Chandil, Adityapur, and rural areas like Potka, Patamda, Moubhandar, Kovali, and Boram visit the Dalma shrine on Mahashivratri.