Police have established a post to command 12 temporary posts headed by Inspectors at North Gate, Bishworupa, Bankali Parking, four Shivalayas, Pingalastan, Ram Mandir, Uma Kunda, Kailash Hill, temple area, Tilganga and Siphal Ground. The main command will be handled by a Superintendent of Police while 512 personnel have been deputed in the area since Monday morning until Tuesday night.

Similarly, 951 personnel will be deployed in other areas in a shift while 579 policewomen will be on guard.

Besides 52 personnel from the National Investigation Department and 300 scouts, 2,500 Armed Police personnel will assist Nepal Police in securing devotees and the temple premises.

Senior Superintendent of Police Narayan Singh Khadka, spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Office, said they will cordon 31 areas by halting the traffic and ease VVIP and VIP entourages.

Bankali, Ramghat, Aryaghat, Ratopul, Purano Baneshwor, Pashupati Old Age Home and Jay Bageshwori are other areas under watch in view of untoward incidents.

Around 1 million people are expected to visit Pashupatinath for the festival on Tuesday. “We are focussing more on surveillance through Close Circuit Television cameras. There are 32 CCTV units watching the temple premises and the movement of people from Tilganga and Gaushala areas,” said SSP Khadka. Bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs will remain stand-by while reinforcements will be available.

The Prime Minister’s Office has directed the Home Ministry, Nepal Police and the APF to maintain high level of vigilance and curb drugs and criminal activities. PMO Secretary Santa Raj Subedi said in a statement that security bodies have been directed to manage the flow of devotees.