By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 25 Mar: Director General of Police Deepam Seth chaired a meeting with senior police officers here, today, to review preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela 2027 in Haridwar. During the meeting, he emphasised on the need for a comprehensive action plan to ensure a safe, smooth, and well-organised experience for devotees and directed officers to conduct regular reviews of the preparations.
During the meeting, Seth reiterated the Uttarakhand Police’s commitment to the safety and convenience of devotees during the Kumbh. He asserted that Uttarakhand Police is fully committed to the safety and convenience of the devotees during the Kumbh Mela. The state police will make Kumbh Mela 2027 smooth and safe through modern technology and better management. The police force will discharge its responsibility with full readiness and sensitivity, he added.
The SSP, Haridwar, Premendra Dhobhal made a presentation regarding the police arrangements, construction works, and other key aspects of previous Kumbh Melas. The DGP held detailed discussions on preparations for 2027, issuing clear instructions for all departments and branches to conduct site inspections and prepare specific action plans. The traffic branch was directed to create a traffic management plan, the communication department was tasked with a communication strategy, the fire service with a fire safety framework, and the training department with a training plan.
Additionally, the DGP directed the personnel department of the Police to formulate a manpower management plan, and the directed the modernisation department to draft a construction plan. He further asked the SDRF, bomb disposal team, and water police to assess their readiness and develop detailed strategies to ensure safety and efficient disaster management.
Instructions were also issued for a timely and efficient railway plan to manage the influx of devotees. Considering the grand scale of Kumbh Mela 2027 and the expected surge in visitors, measures such as increasing CCTV cameras, using drones, and employing modern surveillance equipment were emphasized. Requests for additional central security forces will be made to strengthen the security system further.
It was shared that the Mela Control room will be equipped with necessary resources, and continuous coordination will be maintained with districts in bordering states to ensure the safety of devotees. Pre-assessment of essential construction works will also be conducted to enhance the overall arrangements for the event. Specific directives issued today included marking arrival and exit points at all bathing ghats and preparing an emergency evacuation plan to handle potential crises. Police personnel will also receive special swimming training to bolster disaster management efforts.
The SSP Haridwar was instructed to form a core team for the event, with a list of potential members to be prepared and submitted promptly. This core team will be deployed in the Haridwar district within the stipulated time frame.
Present at the seminar were senior officials, including ADG V Murugesan, IGs Nilesh Anand Bharane, Narayan Singh Napalchyal, Rajiv Swaroop and Dhirendra Gunjyal, and other senior police officers.
