Madurai city set for Azhagar event today

Madurai: With the 10-day-long Chithirai festival coming to a close in Madurai city, the district administration has stepped up its preparations to ensure that the tens of thousands of devotees expected in the final days are able to celebrate safely.Devotees from Madurai and surrounding districts have been gathering in strength to witness special days such as Thirukalyanam, Therottam and Lord Kallazhagar's procession in the city as well as descent into the Vaigai river. Madurai corporation and city police have made several arrangements for the safety of the crowds gathered for these days and also taken precautions in case of any emergency. Traffic police and city police have set up barricades to prevent vehicles from parking along the procession route. Traffic has been diverted and alternate parking arrangements made for the crowds. Thousands of drinking water tanks have been set up along with mobile toilet units. Special buses are being operated during the festival days.On the occasion of Lord Kallazhagar entering Vaigai river on Friday, city police have been deployed from all four zones of the state. Security will be headed by south zone IG Vijayendra S Bidari and city police commissioner Abhishek Dixit. As man as 14 officers of SP-level rank will assist them, a senior police official told TOI. City police have set up 18 ‘May I help you?' booths exclusively for the festival event. For smooth ambulance movement within the crowd, an ambulance has been stationed near Theni Anantham junction, and the route towards Govt Rajaji Hospital from Theni Anantham junction has been sterilised.Madurai corporation has mobilised its Hospital on Wheels unit and is collaborating with private hospitals, which have also set up mobile ICUs and ambulances to patrol the procession routes and quickly administer first aid. Fire and Rescue officers with swimming training have also been deployed as a safety measure."As soon as the day's festivities are over, sanitation workers are deployed overnight on cleaning drives to clear all the waste generated from the day. They have also been told to clear out any fallen tree branches or leaves from the street ahead of the procession the following day," a senior city corporation official said. The main types of waste are paper and plastic waste from plates, cups and bottles to the snacks and annadhanam that devotees consume. "Large dustbins have been provided all along the procession route but very few of them are fully used," he said. "With the arrangements made, Madurai is ready to welcome the almost eight lakh devotees expected for the final days of Chithirai festival celebration," the official said.