The Ranchi District administration has taken a host of measures for preventing mishaps, including drowning and stampede, during the Chhath festival in the State capital. Lakhs of devotees are expected to visit various ponds and river banks in and around the city on Tuesday and Wednesday to worship the Sun god.

Ranchi DC Rai Mahimapat Ray and the SSP Anish Gupta have issued a joint order elaborating on the security arrangement at 60 ghats of the state capital.

Officials said NDRF teams along with speed boats and lifeboats would be deployed at four places including the Kanke Dam, Dhurwa Dam and Bada Talab. Besides five manual boats of the tourism department would be also be placed at Kanke Dam.

NDRF teams would be provided in other ghats keeping in view availability of the personnel. Furthermore police officals have been directed to post jawans who know swimming at the Chhath ghats.

The ghats having deep water have been barricaded for safety reasons as there is a possibility of people particularly children getting drowned.“I appeal to the devotees not to cross the barricade put up at the ghats,” the Ranchi mayor Asha Lakra said.

Ranchi DC Rai Mahimapat Ray stated that around 150 members of NDRF and the civic defense would be deployed at the ghats to prevent drowning and other mishaps. In addition, magistrates along with police force would be posted at the ghats to manage crowd and also ensure safety of people including elderly, women and children.

The routes of vehicles near the ghats have been defined. There would be a complete ban on entry of vehicles including two-wheelers inside the barricaded area.

The district administration has identified over one and half dozen routes including Indrapratha Colony-Joda Talab, Badgai chowk-Jumar Bridge, Vidyanagar-Ganga Sagar and the Argora old pond road as senstive. Patrolling parties would be keeping a watch over these roads.