Tamil Nadu

Surveillance cameras installed in temple

TIRUCHI: The famous Mariamman Temple at Samayapuram near here, which attracts a large number of devotees every day, has been brought under increased vigil, thanks to the installation of surveillance cameras inside the shrine.

In all, 16 surveillance cameras have been fitted at vantage points inside the temple and linked with the monitor installed in the office of the Joint Commissioner-cum-Executive Officer, functioning within the shrine, with a video back-up provision facility for 20 days.

The cameras were sponsored by a devotee recently.

The equipment has been installed at different points, including Vasantha mandapam, Parvathi mandapam, VIP entrance, the four ‘praharams’, mahamandapam, entry points, hundial counting centre and ticket issuing places.

Temple authorities said the installation of the cameras had enabled the temple’s Joint Commissioner to keep track of the movement inside the shrine, sitting in the office itself.

One of the surveillance cameras has been positioned in such a way to focus only on the golden ‘vimana’ and linked with a big television set installed at the Parvathi mandapam to enable devotees have a darshan of the golden ‘vimana’ before stepping into the shrine.

Ever since the cameras were installed a few days ago, no incident of theft or chain snatching has been reported, say temple authorities.

On an average, over 10,000 devotees throng the temple every day, which ranks second in the State after the Dhandayuthapaniswami Temple in Palani in terms of income generation.

Devotees turn up in very large numbers during the ‘Poochorithal’ festival, ‘Amavaasai’ and on Pournami days.

The authorities said a burglar alarm had been installed inside the temple recently which was sponsored by another devotee.

The installation of cameras and burglar alarm is aimed at enhancing security and safety, say authorities.

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