Women fetch water at Digha Ghat in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Senior officials appear to be determined to ensure safety and security of devotes during Chhath — the biggest festival of the state.

Taking a lesson from the stampede at Gandhi Maidan after Ravan Vadh on October 3, the authorities have decided to adopt the recommendations of the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) for mass gatherings. Prepared in December 2013, ignorance about it cost 33 lives earlier this month.

The Telegraph had highlighted the BSDMA report in its October 6, 2014 edition. A week on, The Telegraph check out how the authorities have become cautious about safe organisation of mass gatherings:

Hazard detection

Chhath plan: Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jitendra Singh Rana said a cop has been deputed for each ghat (riverbank) to identify hazards, including electric wire, damaged structures and criminals. Bursting of crackers has been prohibited

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: Identifying the absence of buffer zone at the exit, Patna divisional commissioner Narmadeshwar Lal has asked to construct funnel-shaped gates going inward (like those at Eco Park) in front of Ramgoolam Chowk, Reserve Bank of India and Udyog Bhavan

Watchtower

Chhath plan: Patna district magistrate Abhay Kumar Singh claimed that watchtowers would be erected at five or six major Chhath ghats. Collectorate and Mahendru ghats are among them              

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: Based on prior announcement of chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, divisional commissioner Lal has asked the executive engineer of the building construction department’s Patna division to construct watchtowers at all entrances              

PA system

Chhath plan: The district magistrate claimed that public address system would be there at all the ghats              

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: The Patna district administration has been asked to install public address system at the proposed watchtowers

Assistance kiosks

Chhath plan: The district magistrate claimed that the district control room would act as “May I Help You” and “Lost and Found” counters              

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: Nothing as of now

Traffic management

Chhath plan: Patna traffic superintendent of police P.K. Das said a comprehensive city traffic plan had been sent to the district administration for feedback. Prohibition on the movement of heavy vehicles at some ghats, ban on vehicle movement on Ashok Rajpath between Kargil Chowk and NIT Mor, regulated traffic movement on Gandhi Setu are few of the suggested measures

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: Instructions have been issued to the Patna traffic police to streamline the autorickshaw parking at the gate in front of the SSP office              

Lights

Chhath plan: Chhath puja samitis would look after lighting at the ghats. Patna Municipal Corporation and Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation would jointly look after the illumination of approach roads       

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: Instructions have been issued to install two-way lampposts along the pathway at Gandhi Maidan              

Safety and security

Chhath plan: Disaster management department has sought 20 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from the Centre. Of them, 12 would be deployed in Patna

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: Patna SSP Rana said around three to four teams — comprising a magistrate, police officer and a constable — have been deployed around Gandhi Maidan to keep a close vigil on the security aspects              

Power supply

Chhath plan: Bihar State Power Distribution Company Private Limited chairman-cum-managing director has issued a directive for the maintenance work of all distribution transformers and their capacity enhancement. Generators would be on standby at every ghat. A team to rectify any fault would also be there              

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: Focus on timely maintenance of the six transformers in its vicinity              

Crowd control

Chhath plan: The Patna SSP claimed that police personnel would be imparted a short training on crowd management prior to Chhath at Patna police lines                     

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: Training programmes would be conducted at regular intervals for effective crowd management              

CCTV surveillance

Chhath plan: Patna district administration claimed that it would install CCTV cameras at all Chhath ghats and approach roads

Proposal for Gandhi Maidan: CCTV cameras installed on the adjoining roads cover most of it. The Patna SSP has claimed that CCTV cameras would be installed inside the Maidan as well