Kolkata: Days after a stampede at Hathras in Uttar Pradesh during a Satsang killed 121 people, the city and the state police have drawn up an elaborate plan for Rath Yatra to ensure that no stampede-like situation takes place here.
In Kolkata alone, cops have drawn up seven major rath yatras which will witness a sizable devotees and onlookers. As many as 74 raths of importance will hit the city streets on Sunday.In all 1,500 cops have been deputed on these routes even as special pickets have been set up. DCP level officers will man the entire movement. The focus will be on managing crowds at the crossings, said cops adding local police stations will be manning the crowd on the footpaths from coming down on the road when the rath crosses them.
Another 2,000 cops will be on guard on Sunday along with QRT teams, the local police and the local traffic guards when the Iskcon Rath Yatra takes place. Cops said there will be diversions on certain south Kolkata roads. All unauthorized parking will be cleared at least an hour before the rath crosses the spot.The rath will follow the usual route from Hungerford Street-AJC Bose road-Sarat Bose Road-Hazra Road-SP Mukherjee Road-JL Nehru Road-Park Street Crossing and Outram Road.
A high-level police meeting was also held at Bhawani Bhawan on Friday regarding Rath Yatra and Muharram.