Amb/Una, August 18: To ensure smooth pilgrim movement and public safety during the Shravan Ashtami fairs at Mata Shri Chintpurni Temple, SDM Amb Paras Agarwal has issued orders under Section 112 of the Himachal Pradesh Police Act, 2007.
According to the order, no pilgrim shall enter the temple premises through any shop located near the temple or via any unauthorized/additional entry point or path adjacent to the temple route. All pilgrims must use only the designated entry and exit routes and adhere to the prescribed queue system as well as instructions from the police and temple administration.
**Directives to identify and seal unauthorized entry points**
The order directs the police to launch a special drive to identify all unauthorized backdoors or secondary entry points around the temple that are being used by shopkeepers or other individuals to facilitate pilgrim entry into the temple complex.
Upon identification and due verification of the concerned premises, such unauthorized entry points will be sealed immediately. This action will be carried out in the presence and with the assistance of the Temple Officer, the Naib Tehsildar-cum-Executive Magistrate, and the concerned Sector Magistrate.
**Orders issued in view of potential overcrowding and disorder**
The order notes that the arrival of a large number of pilgrims during the Shravan Ashtami fair places immense pressure on pedestrian movement along the temple's designated entry and exit routes. It has come to light that some shops near the temple have additional entry points or open passages, allowing pilgrims to bypass the designated entry and queuing systems and enter the temple complex directly.
The order also references a video circulating on social media, which shows pilgrims entering the temple complex directly through a shop located adjacent to the premises. According to the order, such unregulated entry can lead to overcrowding, disorder, and disruptions to the established queue system, thereby creating challenges for public safety, traffic management, and the maintenance of law and order.
SDM Paras Agarwal appealed to devotees to adhere to the designated entry and exit routes and the queue system, and to refrain from entering the temple premises via any unauthorized paths or through shops. He stated that compliance with these established arrangements would help ensure the safe and smooth movement of devotees during the fair.
This order will remain in effect until August 22, 2026. Violations of the order will attract action under the provisions of applicable laws.