Deoghar: With preparations underway for Shravani Mela 2026, senior officials from Bihar and Jharkhand held a high-level inter-state coordination meeting at the Deoghar Circuit House on Saturday to finalise security, crowd management and pilgrim welfare measures. The meeting was chaired by Santhal Pargana Commissioner Sanjay Kumar and attended by divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and other senior administrative officials from both states.
The meeting focused on ensuring smooth coordination across all districts along the Kanwariya route from Sultanganj to Deoghar. Officials decided to remain connected round the clock through dedicated WhatsApp groups, modern communication systems and Artificial Intelligence-based tools to enable faster information sharing and swift emergency response.
With lakhs of devotees expected to visit Deoghar and Basukinath during the month-long festival, authorities are setting up multiple holding areas equipped with electricity, fans, toilets, bathing facilities, drinking water, mobile charging points and healthcare services. Tent cities are also being developed to accommodate pilgrims and help regulate crowds.
Special attention will be given to the safety of children and elderly devotees. Authorities have urged pilgrims to ensure that children and senior citizens carry the contact details or address of their family members to help reunite them quickly if they get separated. A large-scale public awareness campaign will also be launched on this issue.
The Bhagalpur Divisional Commissioner stressed the importance of close coordination among Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Jamui and the bordering districts of Jharkhand. Security arrangements along the inter-state border will be strengthened through intensive patrolling, additional check posts and enhanced surveillance to ensure a prompt response to any emergency.
The Deoghar district administration presented a detailed review of the fair preparations, noting that the highest rush of pilgrims is expected on Sundays and Mondays. Magistrates, police personnel and security forces have been deployed at strategic locations, while special arrangements have been made for queue management, traffic regulation and the smooth offering of holy water at the Baba Baidyanath Temple.
To improve safety, officials announced that devotees will not be allowed to travel on the roofs of vehicles entering from Bihar. The entry of double-decker vehicles carrying Kanwariyas into Deoghar district has also been completely banned, and neighbouring districts have been asked to strictly enforce the restriction.
In another key decision, the administration confirmed that VIP or out-of-turn darshan will remain suspended throughout Shravani Mela 2026, in line with state government directives. The move is intended to ensure equal and uninterrupted access to the temple for all devotees.
Officials from Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger and Jamui reviewed their preparedness during the meeting and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining law and order, strengthening security and ensuring the smooth conduct of the month-long pilgrimage through close coordination between the two states. Several senior officials also participated in the meeting via video conferencing.