multi-layered security cordon involving 25,000 personnel from different police units, CCTVs and drone cameras has been put in place for the 142nd Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra on July 4 in Ahmedabad, officials said Saturday. The Rath Yatra will traverse a distance of 14 kilometres and will have three chariots, 19 elephants, 100 trucks, 30 troupes and seven motorcars.
Pradeepsinh Jadeja, Gujarat minister of state for home, chaired a meeting to the review the security and also inspected the route of the procession. He said the administration was fully prepared to ensure the massively-patronised event passed off peacefully. The 14-kilometre has been divided into 26 zones manned by 37 teams of the state reserve police apart from 15 Quick Response Teams.
A government release said, "Over 25,000 policemen will be part of the security arrangement for the procession. It will include eight Inspector Generals of Police, 23 Deputy Commissioners of Police, 44 Assistant Commissioners of Police, 119 inspectors, besides Home Guards among others."
A team of five DCPs, fifteen ACPs, 37 inspectors, and 177 police sub inspectors, supervised by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), will be responsible for security arrangements when the procession will be on the move," the release informed.