Bhagalpur: Devotees participating in the annual Shravani Mela pilgrimage from Sultanganj in Bihar to the Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand, will be under continuous CCTV surveillance this year, as part of a sweeping set of measures to improve safety and streamline the religious event expected to draw thousands of Kanwariyas in 2025.
Authorities from Bihar and Jharkhand held an inter-state coordination meeting on Wednesday, where they outlined a comprehensive action plan for security, crowd control and infrastructure support for the month-long pilgrimage. Officials said law enforcement agencies in both states will operate in tandem to ensure smooth passage for devotees along the traditional route.
“From Sultanganj to Deoghar, special arrangements will be made for the safety and convenience of devotees,” said Bhagalpur Divisional Commissioner Himanshu Kumar Rai. “CCTV surveillance and drone monitoring will be deployed to keep a watch on movement and crowd behaviour. There will be no tolerance for illegal activities, especially the sale or consumption of alcohol.”
To better track the movement of pilgrims, real-time updates of the Kanwar route will be monitored through coordination between the Bhagalpur, Banka and Munger districts. The Bihar police will carry out intensive patrolling and erect multiple checkpoints along the way. Rai added that a dedicated emergency response team will be on standby 24/7 and electricity supply will be stabilised with backup systems in place.
Officials also agreed to a strict ban on VIP or out-of-turn darshan during the state-organised mela to ensure equal access for all devotees.
Key decisions from the review meeting include:
- CCTV coverage along the full stretch from Sultanganj to Deoghar
- Deployment of drone cameras in Deoghar for crowd management
- A complete prohibition on liquor and drugs, with offenders facing strict action
- 24/7 coordination via WhatsApp groups among state officials
- Use of AI-powered chatbot to register and resolve devotee complaints in real time
- Designated holding points for crowd regulation
- Crackdown on non-compliant buses, including double-decker and sleeper coaches
- Traffic diversions and a one-way system being considered due to road construction
- Evaluation of Hansdiha as a potential alternate route to ease congestion
