Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SD)

Mumbai, Aug 22: To keep a strict watch during the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival which began on Saturday August 22, the Mumbai police have geared up the security in the city, a police official said.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the celebrations are subdued this year, to contain the coronavirus, the official stated.

Besides the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Muharram is also celebrated in a low key manner with processions prohibited due the ongoing pandemic crisis, the official added.

"Apart from the local police, a company of Rapid Action Force (RAF), three companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), local arms and riot control police have been deployed in the city," the official quoted.

To avoid any untoward incident, bomb disposal squads, quick response team and anti-terrorism cells have been deployed to put an alert.

The official said that the police would be monitoring the happenings of the city with the help of 5000 CCTV cameras installed and drone cameras would also be used for aerial surveillance.

The police have asked the people to avoid gathering on roads during the festival and pandals were asked to cut down noise pollution.

As a precautionary measure, people are asked to wear masks and sanitize pandals and maintain social distancing.