Shrawani Mela: Security up in Banka, Bhagalpur districts

BHAGALPUR: Aimed at making the monthlong Shrawani Mela pilgrim-friendly, the Bhagalpur and Banka district administrations are making elaborate arrangements for the kanwariyas.
The Mela, which will begin on July 27 is likely to be inaugurated by deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi.
Safety and security of the pilgrims coming from across the country and from neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Nepal reaching Sultanganj (Bihar) to collect holy water from the Ganga and then trek barefoot to Deoghar is the foremost concern of both the district administrations.
Officials of the district administration reviewed the Mela preparations at Sultanganj and the routes falling in Banka district on Tuesday. Divisional commissioner Rajesh Kumar, who made a visit to Sultanganj to supervise the mela preparations, directed the officials of various departments of Bhagalpur and Banka to ensure hassle-free pilgrimage to kanwariyas. He also reviewed the preparations made by different service providing departments like the road, electricity, health, public health engineering department (PHED), water, food safety, public relations department (PRD), beside others.
He also directed the electricity department to make proper arrangements and provide uninterrupted power supply to Sultanganj and the entire trek route. The PHED was asked to ensure sanitation and make available pure drinking water through tankers and other means, whereas health department officials were directed to ensure round-the-clock health services.
The divisional commissioner also ordered to regulate the movement of heavy and big commercial vehicles on the Sultanganj-Deoghar route.
The divisional commissioner said, “Engineers have been asked to get fine sand laid on the trek route to give relief to barefoot devotees. Proper lighting arrangements will be also ensured on the entire stretch right from Sultanganj to Deoghar, besides embankment arrangements at Sultanganj Siri Ghat.”
Bhagalpur DM Pranav Kumar and SSP Ashish Bharti said, “We will ensure safety and security of the kanwariyas. Preparations have been made to make it a pilgrim-friendly mela and officials have been asked to extend all help to the pilgrims coming from various places.”