Tungabhadra Pushkaralu: 5,000 police personnel deployed at Kurnool

Kurnool: District police are gearing up to provide fool-proof security for the upcoming Tungabhadra Pushkaralu set to start on November 20. The 12-day event will conclude on December 1. In a press release on Wednesday, district superintendent of police (SP) Dr Fakkeerappa Kaginelli said 5,000 police personnel were deployed at various places where Pushkaralu will take place in the district.

He said that the district administration has arranged 23 pushkar ghats across the district. One lakh pilgrims from various states are expected to take a holy bath in River Tungabhadra in the 12 days. On the security measures, Dr Fakkeerappa Kaginelli said bomb disposal and access control teams, CC cameras, drones, hand-held metal detectors, deep search mine detectors and explosive vapour detectors have been deployed to ensure tight security. All pushkar ghats as well as riverbed areas will be covered by the security arrangements.

According to the SP three additional SPs, 14 DSPs, 46 CIs, 99 SIs, 413 ASIs and head constables, 927 police constables, 300 home guards, 84 woman police constables, 25 women home guards, two sections of AR platoons, four section of APSP platoons, nine special party teams, 34 access control teams, four dog squad teams and 24 bomb disposal personnel have been deployed. "The bandobust would continue from November 19 evening to the final day of the 12-day Pushkaralu," he said.

Dr Kaginelli said the police personnel from Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa, Prakasham and Chittoor districts were mobilised for pushkaralu duty. The police department also announced traffic diversions to conduct Pushkaralu in a peaceful manner at the surrounding places of the Pushkar ghats, he added and called upon the devotees and pilgrims to cooperate with the department to avoid unwanted violence.

He further appealed the people to follow Covid-19 protocol to stop the spreading of the virus during the spiritual mega event.