Meerut: With hundreds of kanwariyas already having reached Augarnath temple and lakhs of them expected to reach on Monday to offer Ganga water on the ‘Shivling’ here, police and district administration have chalked out an extensive plan to ensure security at the temple. While over 600 police officers, 1 RAF, 2 PACs will be there on the spot, drone cameras and 25 separate CCTV cameras will keep the crowd at the temple under surveillance on Monday. All vehicles will remain prohibited in the area to ensure hassle-free movement of Shiv devotees.
Detailing about the police deployment at Augarnath temple, Meerut SSP J Ravinder Goud, said, “Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and one company of Police Armed Constabulary (PAC) will be deployed outside the temple. Also, the temple has been divided into nine sectors and will be under close surveillance. All the devotees will be under surveillance of 25 CCTV cameras and drone cameras which will take serial views of the temple.”
Police officials have set up a control room on the temple premises from where the footage will be checked. Every year, lakhs of Shiv devotees offer Ganga water brought from Haridwar in their kanwar on the shivlings at the Augarnath temple.

“The municipal authorities have been instructed to clean the temple premises so as to ensure that cleanliness is maintained on a holy day,” said Meerut district magistrate Jagat Raj.
Also, for the first time, entry and exit points have been made in the temple so that the devotees who have offered their prayers do not remain in the temple for long and thus avoid rush inside the temple.

“Five circle officers, two ASPs, seven DSPs and at least 10 inspectors will remain on their toes along with at least 600 police officers inside and outside the temple. As there is such a huge police force inside the temple apart from the devotees, it is necessary that the devotees keep moving and do not rush. What usually used to happen was that the devotees either took the same entry route for exit or remained inside the temple premises even after offering prayers. To ensure that their movement continues, separate entry and exit points have been fixed and the ones who have offered prayers will be told to leave,” said SP city Om Prakash.

No vehicles will be allowed near the temple to ensure traffic-free movement for the kanwariyas. SP (traffic) Kiran Yadav said that while the traffic diversions in the city will remain as usual for kanwar yatra, making the temple a vehicle-free zone is just an additional regulation.