Security up for Makam festival
Kochi: Elaborate arrangements have been made at Chottanikkara Devi temple by the Devaswom authorities for the smooth conduct of the Makam Thozhal even as the Ernakulam Rural police is planning to deploy 1000 personnel on the day on Tuesday.
A Devaswom official said that preparations including erecting barricades are in the last lap to ensure that the women devotees have a smooth darsan on the day.
Rural SP Rahul R. Nair said women police personnel will be deployed under five DySPs and there will be traffic restrictions in the area from Thiruvankulam to Vattukunnu on the day. A 24-hour police control room will function in the area on the day.
The district police chief said as many as 80 CCTV cameras have been installed covering temple surroundings, bus stops and the queue portions. Police personnel in mufti too will patrol the area on the day.
He said he will personally visit the temple on Monday to review the security arrangements. The police chief warned that pickpockets will be sternly dealt with. Special squads will keep an eye on any operation by goons.
He requested the devotees to follow the instructions of the police personnel on the day to avoid rush and untoward incidents. Apart from security arrangements, ambulances with doctors, fire and rescue, power and PWD officials, too, are being deployed in the area.