Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan, a high alert has been issued in Pune, with security being heightened at several key places in the city, including Pune Airport, the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune Air Force Station, etc.
Safety measures have also been taken at places that witness large crowds, such as the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple, Sarasbaug Ganpati temple and Swargate bus depot, among others.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Sanjay Suryawanshi, a member of the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust, said, "The security forces have been increased amid the tensions between India and Pakistan. Approximately 30 per cent more security staff have been deployed compared to normal days." He added, "The security staff is in alert mode as the footfall at the temple increases during the weekend."
Raghuveer Pote, one of the devotees, said, "The Dagdusheth temple is a key location in Pune, and accordingly, the security staff has been increased since Thursday night. Devotees are not allowed to stay longer. However, there is no need to panic as the steps taken are precautionary."
Meanwhile, along with being an educational and IT hub, Pune also hosts at least 10 defence institutions, including the Ordnance Factory in Khadki and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), among others. Hence, ramping up security at this juncture is of utmost importance.
Speaking to this newspaper, Ankush Chavhan, Public Relations Officer at the Southern Division of the Ministry of Defence in Pune, said, "Pune is on orange alert, which means there is a high probability of a serious security threat or disaster, but it is not yet critical. The measures taken during such an alert include heightened security, advising the public to remain vigilant, and preparing for an emergency response."
