Kathmandu: On the eve of Maha Shivaratri, Om Prakash Aryal, Nepal’s Home Minister, visited the Pashupatinath Temple this evening to review preparations and security arrangements for devotees.
Minister Aryal was accompanied by Rajkumar Shrestha, heads of security agencies, the chief of the Ministry’s Security and Coordination Division, the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, and senior ministry officials. At the site, Shridhar Sapkota, chairman of the Pashupati Area Development Trust, briefed the minister on the arrangements made for the festival.
During a security briefing, Ramesh Thapa, Chief of Kathmandu Police, stated that a total of 6,000 security personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department have been deployed, with 1,200 personnel on duty per shift.
He also mentioned that, in coordination with local authorities, the Trust, and Nepal Scouts, “Help Desks” have been set up, and plainclothes officers will monitor the crowd to prevent theft, pickpocketing, drug use, and other potential misconduct.
After reviewing the arrangements, Minister Aryal instructed security agency chiefs to ensure smooth darshan for devotees and eliminate any lapses in security management. The Pashupati Area Development Trust estimates that around 700,000 devotees are expected to visit this year. To facilitate easy access, all four entrances to the temple will remain open from 2:00 AM on Sunday.
