Nashik cops to revise bandobast for next Parvani

NASHIK: The police on Sunday said it would revise the security arrangements during the next Shahi Parvani this Kumbh Mela on September 13 and shared an assessment report was also shared with the senior ministers for change in barricading. Commissioner of police S Jaganathan said various aspects needed to be considered while saying that the crowd on the first Shahi Snan day was fewer than the 2013 Kumbh Mela in Nashik. “A considerable number of pilgrims had started taking the holy dip at the Ramkund and the venue was vacated for the sadhus at 3am. During the last Kumbh held in 2003-04, the Ramkund was vacated at midnight. This gave ample time for the pilgrims to go for the Shahi Snan,” he said.Jaganathan added that the pilgrims and residents knew about the Ramkund being open to them only after the sadhus finish taking the bath. “This was visible as the first surge of the crowd was seen from 12.30-1pm. This led to holding of pilgrims at outer and inner parking areas such as Peth route, Katya Maruti and Santosh T-point according to the hold and release plan,” he said.The commissioner said that second surge of pilgrims’ flow started around 3.30pm and 4pm and continued till midnight.On the pilgrims’ complaint about walking long distances, he said residents living in Malegaon stand, Katya Maruti and Gauri Patangan were annoyed as they had to walk around considering the river ghats situated very close to their residences. “There would be a number of revisions in the existing bandobast. Barricading would be removed in some places, some areas would require additional barricading and revision at some points would be done. All this would happen after internal discussions. It is expected that the crowd would double during the next parvani and arrangements would be done accordingly,” he told TOI.Jaganathan said the bandobast was apt as all the pilgrims and residents could get an opportunity to take holy dip at Ramkund by early afternoon. There were six missing complaints reported.