Patna has deployed around 2,000 police personnel across the city for Durga Puja, with CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, control rooms and traffic diversions being used to manage crowds and maintain public safety at pandals and other gathering points.
Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma said on Saturday that adequate forces had been positioned at puja venues and locations expected to witness large public gatherings. Police teams are monitoring pandals through CCTV cameras and drones, while local control rooms are being used to track crowd movement and coordinate responses to pressure at busy locations.
“Preparations have been made to ensure that people can celebrate Puja peacefully and comfortably. Police personnel have been deployed at various locations, and CCTV cameras and drones are being used for surveillance,” Sharma said.
The security arrangements include inspections of puja pandals and flag marches in sensitive areas identified by the police. Officials have also made fire safety arrangements at venues, including the availability of fire extinguishers. Police personnel have been instructed to remain alert and respond promptly to any incident, the SSP said.
The deployment is also intended to address the mobility pressures created by festival gatherings. Traffic diversions came into effect from Saturday evening, with officials monitoring congestion and crowd movement at busy locations. Police will take steps to regulate traffic and manage crowd pressure as required.
Different police units, including specialised forces, have been assigned to the arrangements. Plain-clothes personnel and women police officers will also be deployed where necessary to support visitor safety and crowd management.
The measures place surveillance, emergency response and traffic regulation alongside conventional policing at a time when public spaces around pandals can experience concentrated pedestrian and vehicular movement. The use of control rooms, drones and CCTV cameras is intended to give officials a coordinated view of conditions across multiple locations rather than relying only on personnel stationed at individual venues.
Sharma appealed to residents to celebrate peacefully, maintain communal harmony and avoid paying attention to rumours. He asked people to report suspicious activity to the police immediately and cooperate with the administration in maintaining law and order.
The traffic diversions and police deployment will remain part of the city’s festival management arrangements as officials monitor crowd movement, congestion and security conditions at pandals and other public gathering points.
