VIJAYAWADA: It will be a litmus test for the Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday, as lakhs of people are expected to throng to the ghats on Krishna river on the account of Sravana Purnima (Raksha Bandhan).
The police department is on its toes making elaborate arrangements to ensure orderly movement of pilgrims. Director General of Police, N Sambasiva Rao said that the police officials will take a decision on movement of vehicles near the ghats depending on the situation.
Divers and swimmers posted at the ghats have been asked to stay alert as the number of people taking a dip in the river will swell. Mini buses transporting Pushkaram pilgrims to ghats will continue as of now. “If the rush is more, there will have to be restrictions on the movement of buses and traffic will be regulated,” the DGP said.
“Our people are on the alert at every ghat. On Wednesday afternoon, an eight-year-old boy who was drowning in the river was rescued by our constable on time. We are rewarding police for such exemplary acts,” he added.
When a woman and her son accidently slipped into a canal at Gollapudi Ghat on Wednesday, an armed constable from Visakhapatnam immediately got into the act and rescued the duo. According to officials, in view of huge rush, water and butter milk sachets are being dumped in large quantities at all ghats and more personnel will be deployed at ghats.