Holi in the capital will be different this year as prohibition looms upon revellers.

The district administration has said that special teams, armed with breathalysers, will be deputed at 12 areas of the city to catch residents breaking the law.

District magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal at a recent meeting with senior police officials issued a joint statement saying no stone will be left unturned in making the festival peaceful.

Agarwal said: "Magistrates and police will be deputed at strategic locations and special emphasis will be placed on nabbing people found under the influence of alcohol. Excise official with breathalysers will be deputed at these spots, and strict action will be taken against anyone found drunk."

Over 120 magistrates will be deputed for the two-day festival starting with Holika Dahan on March 12 and Holi on March 13, added Agarwal. Agarwal stressed that adequate police, including police in plain clothes, will be deployed to keep an eye on the festival's proceedings. Additional supervision will be on biker gangs.

"Police have been instructed to keep a close eye on the biker gangs in the city as they are usually found involved in untoward incidents. Holi is a festival of joy and happiness, and residents must maintain the sanctity of the festival," said Agarwal.

Like the previous year Patna has been divided into eight sectors for police and magistrate deputation. Station house officers (SHOs) have special instructions from their seniors to be on alert and available for the smallest incidents. Patrolling will be carried out at most parks, hotels, restaurants and community halls, and women constable and police officers in civil clothes will be deputed to keep eve-teasers at bay. "Patna police have identified the city's vulnerable spots and extra force would be deputed there. Fire tenders have been asked to be on alert especially on Holika Dahan and hospitals have been warned about burn injuries. All government hospitals, including Patna Medial College and Hospital, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital and New Gardiner Road Hospital, have been instructed to be on alert," said Agarwal.

The district magistrate and his team will also be on duty and present to monitor the situation. "The district administration's control room will be available if residents want to call to report any emergency," he added.

Residents can call 0612-2219810/2219545/2219097 to contact the district control room, and 0612-2201978/2201975 to speak to the police control room.