Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: As the first Shravan Somvar is on July 10, the Twin City Commissionerate Police has made elaborate security and other arrangements for Kanwariyas (Bol Bom devotees) in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, an official source said today.

In view of the expected congregations, police and fire services teams have kept powerboats, lifejackets, rope lines and portable light towers in place and will be on their toes round the clock. Accordingly, the Commisionerate Police created awareness and issued advisories for Bol Bom devotees not to venture into the deep water of the rivers.

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“We have given emphasis to the safety of Kanwariyas, effective traffic management and law and order. Particularly, in Bhubaneswar, 12 mobile patrolling teams and 13 PCR vans will be deployed on the routes through which the devotees will move. Arrangements have also been made for first-aid points and mobile medical units to provide medical care at times of need,” the official stated.

“ODRAF teams will be deployed at river Ghats, where the devotees will lift water. Five platoons of force led by an Additional DCP will look after security arrangements. Five ACPs, eight Inspectors and 39 sub-Inspectors including ASIs will be on-duty for the purpose,” the source added.

Hundreds of Bol Bom devotees are expected to throng the Shaivite shrines in the two cities. Sans safety protocols and restrictions of Covid-19, Kanwariyas seem to be excited this year and will pay their obeisance and perform Jalabhishek with fresh rainwater collected from different rivers on Mondays over a period of two months mostly covering July and August this year.