Ranchi: The state government is gearing up for the annual Rajkiya Shravani Mela, which will begin on July 11 and continue until August 9. Over 5 million devotees are expected to visit Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar and Baba Basukinath Dham in Dumka during the holy month. To ensure a smooth and safe experience for the pilgrims, preparations are being carried out on a large scale across various departments.
Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari chaired a high-level review meeting on Wednesday with senior officials of relevant departments, including the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police from Deoghar and Dumka. The meeting focused on concrete planning and fixing accountability to ensure seamless execution of tasks during the mela.
Tiwari stressed the need for robust crowd management, with special attention to preventing stampedes. She directed that crowd movement be regulated to avoid congregation at any single point. Devotees should be guided in small groups to ensure order and safety. Personnel deployed at key points must be trained, responsible, and sensitive, and may leave their post only after a proper replacement arrives.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that standard safety protocols should be strictly followed to avoid any stampede-like situation. She instructed the use of AI-based CCTV cameras and drone surveillance for continuous monitoring. If crowd surges are observed at any location, immediate action must be taken to decongest the area without delay. She also directed that the movement paths be kept level and free from obstacles to minimize tripping risks. Stairways, if any, must be non-slippery, and separate pathways must be arranged for incoming and outgoing devotees.
Power cuts should be avoided, and backup systems must be in place. There should be no exposed or hanging electrical wires, especially along public routes. At entry points, metal detectors should be used without causing overcrowding. Based on previous experience, crowd pressure tends to increase as the temple doors open. To manage this, the local DCs and SPs must ensure their presence and take direct command during peak times. Sundays and Mondays typically witness higher footfall, which should be accounted for in planning.
Senior officers from headquarters, particularly those from emergency-related departments, have been instructed to inspect arrangements on-site and fix any deficiencies well in advance. Cleanliness has also been made a top priority, given the monsoon season. The Chief Secretary directed that pure drinking water must be available throughout the mela area and that tent cities set up for pilgrims should have well-maintained facilities for toilets, drinking water, and resting areas. She asked departments to ensure the timely supply of disposable bed covers as per the Chief Minister’s instructions.
To help pilgrims navigate the area, hoardings and signages must be installed at strategic locations to provide information on traffic flow, medical aid, and rest points. QR codes for feedback and complaints should also be made easily accessible across the mela premises.
The review also included instructions related to the Kanwaria path, road conditions in Baba Dham and Basukinath, accommodation for devotees, traffic regulation, fire safety, ambulance and medical services, and adequate street lighting.