As part of the arrangements for Krishna Pushkaram to be held between August 12 and 23, the Telangana government, on Wednesday, launched a website dedicated to disseminate information on the event to devotees.

The website will have dynamic updates on heavy throngs at various ghats, so that devotees can avoid these locations and find alternative ones.

Taking advantage of floodwaters in Krishna river, it has also been decided to release 50,000 cusecs of water from Nagarjunasagar into Pushkar ghats, in addition to the 1.9 lakh cusecs already released, Minister for Endowments A. Indrakaran Reddy informed at a press conference here on Wednesday.

The website http://pushkaralu.telangana.gov.in, officially launched by Mr. Reddy in his chambers at the Secretariat, will have all the information related to the Pushkaram, including transportation facilities, timings and vacant seats in buses and trains leaving for various locations in the two districts, Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda where bathing ghats have been constructed.

The website will also display maps to reach each of these locations by road. Details of the temples and tourist attractions close to the Pushkar ghats, and information about hotels and lodges too will be displayed.

Information on medical facilities, along with the contacts of doctors and police officials will be on the website, which has been developed by a local company, officials informed.

Mobile apps and Facebook pages of the police of the two districts have been linked to the website.

Endowment Department’s website too will have updates on the footfalls at each of the Pushkar ghat and the overall numbers.

Mr. Reddy also informed that the floodwaters in the river will be managed in such a way that the bathing ghats will not face the danger of being submerged. Precautions have been taken against crocodiles entering the ghats, by installing thick iron mesh around each ghat. About 60 temples at various locations have been spruced up after carrying out minor repairs, and arranging for lighting.

Helpline centres and control rooms have been established to disseminate information and receive complaints from the devotees. Announcements of missing persons can also be made through the helpline, 040-24755522, 040-24750102, 7794014301 or 7794014302.

Secretary, Endowments, N. Siva Sankar and Secretary, Information Technology, Jayesh Ranjan attended the launch.