Cuttack, March 23: Mischief mongers will have a tough time as police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peaceful Holi celebrations here.

The police have come up with a special strategy to put a check on incidents of eveteasing and group clashes during the festival of colour to be observed here on Thursday.

Senior officials said that a special threeday drive had already started ahead of the festival of colours to put a check on incidents of drunken and rash driving from last night.

“We had fined nearly 84 persons during an intense drive against persons driving under the influence of alcohol yesterday and the special drive will continue for the next two days,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

Arora said adequate security personnel would be deployed at strategic locations and police patrolling intensified to check nuisances on streets.

The traffic wing has also decided to deploy extra manpower at major traffic junctions to rein in stunt bikers during the Holi celebrations.

Senior officials said that already caution boards had been installed at several places at Chahata ghat and Jobra and the two units of fire services would also be deployed at the vulnerable ghats in the city.

There will be extra vigil on various other water bodies to prevent drowning incidents that has always remained a concern during post Holi celebrations.

Citizens here have already plunged into in festivities with the Marwari community celebrating the festival here today with much enthusiasm.

The festivities began in the early morning with the traditional Holika dahan (burning of effigy of Holika demon) today. 

The people from Marwari community thronged the Nayasarak Chowk to observe the Holika dahan.

Earlier, the members of the Marwari Club Sanchalan Samiti had organised several cultural programmes to celebrate Basant Utsav here yesterday.