Security beefed up at Somnath temple

With the sea routes being used to carry out the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, security has been beefed up at Somnath temple, one of the most-visited pilgrimage places in Gujarat, situated near Vearaval off the south coast of Saurashtra region.

With the sea routes being used to carry out the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, security has been beefed up at Somnath temple, one of the most-visited pilgrimage places in Gujarat, situated near Vearaval off the south coast of Saurashtra region.

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"Since the Somnath Temple is situated right on the coast, its proximity to the Arabian Sea makes it more vulnerably for attacks through the sea route," public relation officer of Somnath Temple Trust Vishal Shukla told PTI.

"After the terror attack on Mumbai (for which the terrorist used the sea route), we felt it was time that the security arrangements in Somnath be revamped," Shukla said.

"We already had guards and cameras to monitor the people who throng the temple in huge numbers everyday. But after the terror strike we have increased the number of guards and CCTV cameras, along with X-ray scanners and metal detectors to enhance the security arrangements," he said.

"We now have 80 trained guards to fortify the premise, which has over 17 CCTV cameras for 24 hour watch on the activities inside and outside the temple," Shukla added.

"Besides, the metal detectors and x-ray scanners ensure that no unwanted thing is carried inside the temple by the devotees," he added.

According to a popular belief, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is situated in Somnath, 79 km from Junagadh.

It is also believed that the temple which has an imposing architecture, has withstood the shocks of time and survived the attacks of conquerers.