Ranchi: If the wild inmates of Birsa Munda Zoological Park in Ormanjhi could speak, they would have certainly boasted their popularity on New Year. The zoo had over 75,000 visitors on Monday.

Getaways with family and friends were the order of the day as schools and colleges were closed, almost all shops stayed closed and offices recorded thin attendance. All roads led to the zoo, dams, parks, waterfalls and temples.

While the zoo and Rukka dam, both in Ormanjhi and around 10km apart, clocked the most footfall inside the city throughout the day - around 75,000 and 20,000 - three waterfalls on capital outskirts Dassam, Jonha and Hundru together clocked over 70,000.

Other top draws in Ranchi city were Kanke and Hatia dams, Fun Castle in Ratu, and Pahadi Mandir and Jagannath Mandir. Outside city limits, a drive to Pithoria valley proved popular for many. At Birsa zoo, besides hordes of people seeking selfies with animals - from a safe distance - the first day of 2018 witnessed heartfelt scenes.

Booty Basti schoolgirl Lovely Singh, 12, who carted her physically challenged brother Saksham Singh, 9, in a wheelchair, beamed, "My brother was so excited that he did not sleep last night. He was very curious to see lions and tigers. He hardly goes outside so we decided to make this day special for him."

Senior BSF officer Diwakar Prasad, who brought his family from Hazaribagh, pulled a toy cycle on which sat his 14-month-old daughter Ahana Arya. "This is her first trip to the zoo," he said.

Though a flooded Rukka dam attracted less people compared to last year, businessman Rajesh Keshri, who brought his children Manya, 4, and Tejaswi, 4, along with their baby tent to the scenic spot, along with a large group of family members, said this was perfect for a picnic. "We are cooking lunch here," he smiled. "It's a proper picnic."

Three Ormanjhi policemen Suresh Rai, Md Hafij Ullah and Devnandan Prasad were seen offering tea to visitors at Rukka dam. Asked why, Ormanjhi OC Santosh Kumar said, "We have planned to distribute 1,000 cups of tea as a goodwill gesture."

Ranchi police made tight security arrangements with 600 personnel from district, Rapid Action Force and India Reserve Battalion at picnic spots. "At Rukka dam police rounded up two youths illegally demanding parking charges. We are also keeping watch on people so that they don't consume liquor, cigarettes or any narcotics at this public place," said Manoj Kumar Jha, a magistrate at Rukka Dam.

Ranchi city SP Aman Kumar said the day was peaceful overall.