Devotees carrying ‘Kalasa’ during a procession during the Sri Modakondamma Jatara at Paderu in Alluri Sitharama Raju district. The festival will be organised on on May 11, 12 and 13 this year.  
| Photo Credit: File Photo

The Alluri Sitharama Raju district administration has started making elaborate arrangements for ‘Sri Modakondamma Jatara’, scheduled to be organised on May 11, 12 and 13.

Keeping in view of the wall collapse incident at Simhachalam during the ‘Chandanotsavam’, the officials are taking additional measures to prevent any such eventualities during the festival.

District Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar held a review meeting with the officials from various departments on the arrangements being made for the festival.

Mr. Dinesh Kumar has emphasised that all necessary precautionary measures must be taken to ensure that no untoward incidents occur during the festival.

“Crowd management during the procession should be effective, ensuring hassle-free darshan for all devotees.

People from the entire district and the neighbouring ones throng the Modakondamma temple during the festival.

The Collector instructed the committee members to work in coordination to prevent overcrowding and jostling in the queue lines.

He asked the officials to ensure efficient management of the crowd, traffic, apart from providing an uninterrupted supply of drinking water and electricity during the three-day festival.

The officials were instructed to ensure strict hygiene and cleanliness. Food sold during the festival should be of high quality, free from contamination, he said.

“All the VIP visits should be planned in advance, and arrangements should be made for darshan as per the protocols,” the Collector said and stressed the need for special measures to ensure the safety of women and children.

As part of security measures, a central control room is being set up, which will be managed by the staff of police, revenue, water supply, panchayat and other departments.

The Collector requested that scouts and NSS volunteers support the police and temple committee in traffic control, managing darshan queues, and ensuring smooth crowd movement.

The district administration has ordered closure of all liquor shops in Paderu from May 10 to May 13.

The Collector ordered a ban on the entry of heavy transport vehicles on the ghat road. Businessmen and owners of commercial establishments were asked to stock the necessary supplies in advance.