Traffic cops draw up plan so that mourners can pay tribute peacefully

The police made elaborate arrangements to help the devotees pay their last respects to president of Ramakrishna Math and Mission Swami Atmasthanandaji who passed away on Sunday evening.

His mortal remains have been taken to Belur Math at around 9 pm on Sunday from Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan in South Kolkata and it will be kept there for the devotees to pay their last respects throughout the night.

Mayor Sovan Chatterjee was present at Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan when his mortal remains were being taken out of the hospital.

Firhad Hakim, the state Urban Development minister and Subrata Mukherjee, the State panchayat minister, went to Belur Math on Sunday night.

His mortal remains were kept at Sanskrito Bhawan which is situated just next to president Maharaj's quarter.

The Math was kept open throughout the night. The Bramhacharins of the order chanted hymns from Bhagavad Gita. The last rites will be performed at the Math in the bank of river Hooghly on Monday afternoon.

Special arrangements were made inside the Math to facilitate the devotees to pay their last respects to their Gurudev quietly maintaining the sanctity of the institution.

Lakhs of devotees poured in at the Math on Sunday night. Soon after getting the message of Swami Atmasthanandaji's demise, the police started making necessary arrangement so that devotees could reach the Math without facing any trouble.

Devotees were found standing in queues with flowers in their hands. Arrangements were made so that the devotees do not face any trouble while standing in queues to reach up to Sanskrio Bhawan.

Before the mortal remains of Swami Atmasthanandaji had reached Belur Math, thousands of devotees were already found standing in queues to pay their homage. The gates of Belur Math will remain open throughout the entire night for the devotees.

The police didn't allow heavy trucks to ply on a stretch of GT Road even after the "no entry" hour for heavy vehicles were over till the mortal remains of Swami Atmasthanandaji had reached Belur Math.

Though no major traffic restriction has been imposed on adjacent thoroughfares on Sunday night, D P Singh, Commissioner of Police (Howrah), said necessary decision on diverting vehicles will be taken according to the situation. Since Sunday night, the police have taken all necessary steps to ensure smooth movement of vehicles on the stretch of GT Road from Bally to Ghusuri so that people do not face any inconvenience in reaching Belur Math.

If needed no vehicles will be allowed to ply towards Belur Math from Girish Ghosh Road.

Additional policemen have been deployed as lakhs of devotees are expected to turn up. Steps have also been taken to ensure availability of buses from Belur Math.

Measures have also been taken to ensure normal ferry service to help devotees travel across River Hooghly to reach Belur Math.