All set for the Baisakhi festival, the Kangra district administration has made all arrangements to tackle the rush of public visiting the temples in the district.

Keeping in view the widespread temples situated in the district, the authorities are leaving no stone unturned to make this holy festival safe as well as successful.

The authorities concerned held a review meeting to take stock of the arrangements and preparedness for the three-day long Baisakhi festival to be organized from April 13.

Kangra Superintendent of Police SantoshPatialsaiod “I have issued directions related to the safety concerns of the people during the festivals. There will be sufficient deployment of police force to avoid any untoward incident.”

One of the temples ShriKalinathKaleshwarMahadev Temple, popularly known as ‘Kalesar’, in Pragpur village of Kangra district witnesses thousands of devotees from different states visiting the temple complex every year on the occasion of Baisakhi.

The temple has a historical significance for the devotees and they take a dip in its holy kund (pond), during the festival in kund as well as in the Beas river. “A huge rush of devotees come here every year from various states and far flung areas to pay homage and take a dip in the auspicious kund (pond) during Baisakhi and Shivratri festivals. The challenge for us is to tackle deaths due to drowning in the river water,” said Dhanveer Singh Thakur, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, DehraGopipur.

This year we intend to step up more security nearby the danger prone areas where drowning is reported, he added.

Famously known as ‘ChotaHaridwar’ by the people of the area, the state government has given the Baisakhi festival’s fair in KalinathKaleshwarMahadev Temple, a state level recognition.

“We have assigned duties to the police officials to maintain the security at all the temple complex. Divers will be deployed near the river Beas. We will also have a sound system to caution the people regarding their safety during holy bath”, told Sub- Divisional Magistrate to The Statesman. Despite of numerous efforts made by the authorities regarding the safety of people especially tourists near the water bodies, people often ignore rules and are put their lives in danger by venturing into the river.