The scene at the Amma Mandapam bathing ghat in Srirangam on Sunday. | Photo Credit: M_SRINATH more-in Devotees from various parts of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring States continue to throng the temple town of Srirangam to take a holy dip in the Cauvery since the 12-day Cauvery Maha Pushkaram started on September 12. The footfall of pilgrims was heavy on Sunday – the commencement of the Tamil month ‘Purattasi’ — with devotees flocking to the Amma Mandapam bathing ghat and the nearby ghats to take a sacred bath in the Cauvery. The water flow has also steadily increased in the river, attracting more devotees. The Amma Mandapam road and the Mambazha Salai witnessed heavy movement of pilgrims on Sunday. A large number of pilgrims have been coming from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh in tourist buses and other vehicles. Barricades have been erected at various spots along the Amma Mandapam road to divert vehicular movement in view of the heavy presence of devotees. A sprawling site along the Salai road has been converted into a temporary parking lot for tourist buses – a majority of which are from Andhra Pradesh. Police personnel in shifts have been deployed at various spots to regulate traffic and thwart crime. Firefighters armed with rubber boats and other equipment have been deployed near the Cauvery river to quickly respond to any emergency situation. Around 80 firefighters would be deployed in shifts till the event concluded, said a senior official of the Fire and Rescue Services Department here.

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