Surat: The city will witness 11 Jagannath Rath Yatras across the city today, including the main 13km procession from the railway station to the Iskcon Temple in Jahangirpura. With thousands of devotees expected to line the routes, police have mounted a massive security operation involving more than 8,800 personnel, drones, CCTV surveillance and special response teams.The city’s longest rath yatra will begin from Surat railway station at 2pm and reach the Iskcon Temple in Jahangirpura at 10pm after covering 13km. The procession will pass through Sahara Darwaja, Udhna Darwaja, Majura Gate, Athwa Gate, Sardar Bridge, Gas Circle, Rander Road and Mora Bhagal before reaching the temple.Apart from the main procession, rath yatras covering routes of 2km to 6km have been organised in Varachha, Katargam, Pandesara, Sachin, Mahidharpura, Bhestan and other parts of the city.To ensure smooth and peaceful celebrations, more than 5,500 police personnel, 2,000 home guards and 1,300 TRB jawans have been deployed. Police held 42 community meetings across the city in the run-up to the festival to strengthen coordination and maintain communal harmony.As part of preventive measures, Surat police detained 12,035 people, sent 78 to jail under the PASA Act and externed 130 individuals. Special teams of the DCB, PCB, SOG, BDDS, Vajra, Varun, dog squad and mounted squad have been deployed. Police will monitor the processions through more than 3,000 CCTV cameras, 800 body-worn cameras and 15 drones. Security arrangements include 14 DCPs, 22 ACPs, 102 police inspectors and 225 police sub-inspectors stationed across 11 routes.
