Elaborate security for Dasara; ambulances, fire and rescue teams to be kept on standby

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City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar (centre) addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Friday. She is flanked by Deputy Commissioners of police Harsha Priyamvada (left) and Sundar Raj (right). | Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

The Mysuru City police have drawn up an elaborate security and traffic management plan for the upcoming Dasara festival scheduled to be held from October 11 to 21 with the deployment of more than 5,000 police personnel in addition to home guards, platoons from Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), City Armed Reserve (CAR), District Armed Reserve (DAR) and anti-sabotage checking (ASC) teams.

Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Friday, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar said the arrangements covered the inauguration of Dasara festivities atop Chamundi Hill, cultural programmes at the Mysuru Palace, the Dasara exhibition, wrestling competitions, flower show, food mela, book fair, illumination of the Palace and main thoroughfares of the City, Yuva Dasara, drone and air shows, the Jamboo Savari procession and the torchlight parade at Bannimantap.

While a total of 5,161 civil and traffic police personnel will be deployed, 33 platoons of KSRP, 25 CAR and DAR platoons, 24 ASC teams will be also participating in the security arrangements along with 1,500 Home Guards.

The deployment will be carried out in two phases, with the first from October 11 to 18 and the second from October 19 to 21, according to the police.

The police have also arranged for 28 ambulances and 32 fire and rescue teams to respond to emergencies at various event venues and along the Jamboo Savari route.

Traffic arrangements will be made to ensure that ambulances can reach nearby hospitals without delay, police said.

Eighteen police help desks will function at important locations across the city from October 11 to 21 to assist visitors with information on Dasara programmes, tourist attractions, traffic arrangements and parking facilities.

The desks will also guide visitors with serious complaints to the appropriate police stations.

The City police along with the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) have jointly identified a total of 92 old, under construction and dilapidated buildings along the Jamboo Savari route from Mysuru Palace to Torch Light Parade grounds in Bannimantap.

Notices had been issued to the owners of the buildings with an advice against allowing people to climb onto the buildings to watch the Dasara procession.

The public will also be prohibited from climbing trees along the route to view the procession. Special personnel will be deployed to enforce the restrictions, said Ms. Latkar.

The police will conduct anti-sabotage checks at major Dasara venues and crowded public places, including railway stations and bus stands.