THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the City Police at Thiruvallom Parasurama Swamy Temple; Shangumugham beach, Janardanaswamy Temple, Varkala and major temples in the city along with the suburbs for conducting annual rituals in connection with the ‘Karkidakavavu Bali’ which will be observed on Friday.
Over 400 police personnel will be deployed at Thiruvallom and another hundred at Shangumughom, where large number of devotees are expected to perform the rituals. Police will also be deployed in other eight locations in the city.
Speaking to ‘City Express’, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sanjay Kumar Gurudin said that over thousand police personnel including various striking forces would be
deployed at all temples in the city where the rituals will be performed. “The personnel will be deployed at these spots on Thursday itself and will be working in two shifts. However, the final decision on the security arrangements will be taken in the coming days”, he added.
The arrangements will be put in place for the smooth flow of vehicular traffic, crowd control and to prevent any untoward incidents at these locations, a top traffic police official said.
The Assistant Commissioners of Police, Fort and Shangumugham will be in charge of the security arrangements in Thiruvallom and Shangumugham respectively. The Deputy Commissioner of Police will also be stationed in Thiruvallom as it is the city’s nerve centre for the ritual. More number of lifeguards will be deployed at Varkala and Shangumugham beaches on account of the roughness of the sea.
Meanwhile, the Fire and Rescue Services has also made arrangements for a hassle-free conduct of the ritual. “Around ten vehicles, including ambulances, mobile tanker units and two ‘dingy boats’ will be put in place at all major temples in the district. We will camp at Varkala a day before the ritual and we are equipped with all the facilities”, said Noushad, divisional officer, Fire and Rescue Services.