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Security beefed up in Ambaji for annual fair

PALANPUR: The Banaskantha district administration is all geared up for the annual Bhadarvi Poonam Mela (fair) that begins on September 8 at Ambaji. About 30 lakh devotees are expected to visit the temple town during the week-long fair.


According to in-charge Banaskantha SP Ajit Rajian, following high alert sounded by central agencies, tight security arrangements have been made across the district.



As many as 121 CCTV cameras have been installed at the fair site for continuous monitoring. All vehicle entering the temple town will be thoroughly checked, said Rajian. All hotels and inns have already been asked to install CCTV cameras in their premises, he added.

"Besides the bomb disposal squads, dog squads and teams of special operation group (SOG), four companies of state reserve police (SRP) and mounted police have been pressed into service. Four mobile vans fitted with CCTV will be patrolling the town round the clock. Emergency response team will also be on alert to counter any emergency," said Rajian.

Vehicle coming from Rajasthan will be diverted towards Palanpur or Himmatnagar, he informed.

Banaskantha collector Sandip Sagale said, that the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) will be deploying 1,100 special buses for the devotees coming from different parts of the state. "Beside regular facilities, special arrangements will made for the physically challenged and senior citizens," said Sagale.

LA Gadhvi, divisional superintendent of North Gujarat Vij Compny Limited, said that to avoid power cuts, big inverters will be installed for all the six days of the fair.

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