Picnic spots of Ranchi will have help desks and medical camps to greet visitors this holiday season in addition to drone surveillance that police would be undertaking in an effort to ensure fool-proof security.

The district administration and police will be issuing separate directives to perk up facilities at some of the popular picnic spots, like Dassam, Hundru and Jonha waterfalls, Dhurwa Dam, Rock Garden, Nakshatra Van, Hatia Dam, Kanke Dam and Tagore Hill.

“As of now, a a directive has been issued to block development officers (BDOs) and circle officers (COs) to identify vulnerable spots that are used frequently to click selfies and depute volunteers to thwart attempts to take pictures at dangerous locations,” said Ranchi deputy commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray.

He said they had also asked BDOs and COs to set up free medical desks with basic medicines for visitors. “Ideally, it should be functional during the day from December 24 till the first week of January 2019,” he said.

According to sources in the district administration, BDOs and COs would coordinate with the district civil surgeon and NGOs working in the health sector to set up medical tents with first-aid kits and have these manned by para-medics and medical practitioners.

“There have been cases of children getting hurt and the elderly suffering from stomach upset during picnics. We hope to address such issues immediately with first-aid and medicines. This apart, volunteers will prevent teenagers from entering dangerous zones to click selfies,” said a senior administrative official.

These measures would be in addition to the over 100 paryakat mitras, or volunteers, who are deployed at waterfalls to assist visitors.

Ranchi SSP Anish Gupta said police officers had been asked to submit assessment reports on picnic spots based on footfall. The reports are to include details of past accidents, like drowning or drunk driving, and eve-teasing and other crimes committed during the holiday season.

“We will be getting assessment reports from police stations in a day or two. After that we will plan security arrangements. All arrangements would be in place between December 24 and January 5, 2019 and again on January 26, 2019. We will be setting up police help desks at all picnic spots during this period,” Gupta said.

Based on the assessment reports submitted by officers in-charge, the city police will also deploy Shakti commandoes, who belong to squad of 40 armed policewomen on scooters with wireless sets, at vulnerable spots, especially those that have seen complaints of eve-teasing and molestation.

A team of divers and NDRF personnel will also be deployed at dangerous spots of water bodies where accidents have occurred in the past.

Traffic policemen will be directed to keep tabs on drunk driving on routes leading to tourist spots by using breathalysers, four of which are with Ranchi police now. Drones will also be used at picnic spots for surveillance, the SSP added.