Chief Secretary Holds Pre-Dussehra Meeting in Patna: Orders Districts to Stay Alert

Chirag Gupta

Patna: Bihar Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena held a crucial meeting in Patna ahead of Dussehra to prevent accidents and ensure public safety. The meeting was attended by District Magistrates (DM) and Superintendents of Police (SP) from across Bihar through video conferencing, along with Home Principal Secretary Arvind Chaudhary, DGP Alok Raj, and senior police officials.

During the meeting, which lasted over an hour, the Chief Secretary instructed all DMs and SPs to remain especially vigilant during the festival period. He emphasized deploying plainclothes police in crowded areas to maintain order. Additional police forces will be stationed at river ghats and along the idol immersion routes after Dussehra. Officers have been directed to keep a close watch on sensitive areas.

This heightened alert comes as a preventive measure following the tragic stampede at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan during the 2014 Dussehra celebrations, which resulted in the deaths of 42 people and left more than 100 injured. The stampede occurred after the Ravana Vadh program when the crowd tried to exit through a closed gate.

The state administration is determined to avoid a repeat of the 2014 incident and has reinforced safety protocols across all districts to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of this year’s Dussehra festivities.