The police would set up a special task force each at Pampa and Sannidhanam to ensure better crowd management at the pilgrim centre during the rush days of the pilgrimage season, said Mr. A. Hemachandran, Inspector General of Police.
Mr. Hemachandran who is also the joint police co-ordinator was talking to reporters after holding a meeting of police officials to review the prevailing crowd management system at Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Friday afternoon.
He said the proposed task force would comprise of police officials, preferably in the rank of Deputy SP, who are well-experienced and familiar with the crowd management mechanism at Sabarimala.
ADVERTISEMENT
The IG said proper co-ordination between the two task forces could make the police force at the Sannidhanam and Pampa informed of the inflow of pilgrims to the holy hillock as well as the human pressure at the holy hillock.
He said police have made elaborate arrangements for the safe conduct of the pilgrimage by every devotee.
Additional police deployment has been made at various key points as part of streamlining the crowd management system.
ADVERTISEMENT
At Holy 18-Steps Mr. Hemachandran said efforts are under way to help as many as 100 devotees to climb the Holy 18-Steps (Pathinettampady) in every minute.
He said experienced young and energetic constables would be deployed at the Holy 18-Steps and special care has been taken to ensure a pilgrim-friendly approach at Sabarimala.
Mr. Hemachandran said the police force at Sabarimala has taken their duty at Sabarimala in a devotional spirit and has been maintaining smooth co-ordination with various other agencies at the pilgrim centre.
The IG said he would be camping at the Sannidhanam for the next two days to oversee and monitor the crowd management.
Mr. V.K.Girijanathan Nair, Police Special Officer at Sannidhanam was also present.