The five-day Durga Puja festivities began on Sunday with Maha-shashti. Newsline did a survey of major pandals in the city and found that on the first day of Puja, most pandals in the city saw heavy security arrangements.

C R PARK (Kali Mandir)

The famous Kali Mandir in C R Park is an important centre of convergence during Durga Puja. This year, special arrangements have been made for security with Delhi Police, Civil Defence and Home Guard personnel stationed at the temple. Six CCTV cameras have been installed at various points in the temple. Sniffer dogs are also being used for the first time.

“The temple is elevated, which provides it with a natural boundary. We have also taken care to ensure there are two separate entries for residents and the general public,” Anita Haldar, reception committee co-convenor at Kali Mandir, said.

C R PARK (K BLOCK)

The pandal at K block, famous for winning the award for best idol the last three years in a row, has chosen a historical theme from Harappa and Mohenja-Daro to do up its idols. Security arrangements here include personnel from the Delhi Police and private security guards. Four machans have been set up at four points of the pandal. In addition to barricades, there are separate entries for residents and the general public, with a separate exit. Provision has also been made for an emergency exit, along with a special entry for VIPs.

C R PARK (B BLOCK)

Security has been tightened at the B block pandal with more than 125 private security guards and more than 50 personnel of the Delhi Police. “Apart from eight CCTV cameras, four machans have also been set up in the four corners of the pandal,” Inspector Sanjay Kumar Singh said. Besides the main entry, there are separate entries for volunteers and vendors.

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