Kolkata Police deploy 5000 personnel for security during Chhath Puja celebrations

The grand festival of Chhath, which celebrates the worship of Chhathi Mai and Lord Surya, has begun on a vibrant note this Tuesday. As Chhath devotees across Kolkata head to various ghats and water reservoirs to offer water for prayers, Kolkata Police has made extensive security and convenience arrangements to ensure the safety of the participants.

For the main days of offering water, Thursday and Friday, over 5000 police personnel will be deployed across the city to oversee the smooth conduct of the rituals. According to sources from Lalbazar, more than 100 ghats and water bodies in Kolkata will see devotees gathering to perform the sacred rituals. To manage the crowd and ensure public safety, adequate police forces will be stationed at these locations, while the river traffic police will monitor the ghats to ensure devotees do not venture too far into the waters of the Ganga.

A disaster management team will also be stationed at key ghats to handle any emergencies or unforeseen situations that might arise. This added layer of preparedness is meant to ensure that the festivities are not marred by accidents or safety issues.

In addition to the security measures, Kolkata Police has announced that the ban on Chhath Puja celebrations at certain locations, including Ravindra Sarovar and Subhash Sarovar, will remain in place this year. Both of these lakes will remain closed for the duration of the festival and will only open after Chhath concludes on Friday. The restriction aims to prevent overcrowding and to ensure that the celebrations take place in a controlled and safe environment.

The city's authorities are taking these extensive steps to make sure that Chhath Puja is celebrated with devotion and security, reflecting the importance of both faith and safety in these large-scale public events.