KATHMANDU: A special security meeting of the Kathmandu district administration was held yesterday, discussing ways to maintain law and order during the upcoming Mahashivaratri festival at the Pashupatinath temple. The festival is slated for February 12. The meeting attended by Chief District Officer Laxmi Dhakal and high-ranking Nepal Police officials discussed public safety during the festival.

“The main agenda of the meeting was maintaining law and order and controlling violence during the festival,” said CDO Dhakal. “We are planning to arrange ambulance service, medicine, doctors and food for the devotees queuing up since midnight,” he added.

“Police will keep vigil round the clock to control any untoward incident, including robbery. We have been planning to deploy a rapid response team as well,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police Ganga Pandey, adding, “Immediate action will be taken against any person or group upsetting peace on the occasion,” he added.

Shivaratri falls on February 12 this year. Devotees from within and outside the country throng the Pashupatinath temple in large numbers during the festival.