A high alert has been sounded in and around Nashik, the venue of the Kumbh Mela, following Monday night's bomb blast in Mumbai.

The event begins on July 30.

• Kumbh Mela in Nashik: Complete Coverage

"Security has been beefed up in and around 'Sadhu Gram' (an area temporarily earmarked for sadhus) and constant vigil is being maintained at all important exit and entrance points," Commissioner of Police P T Lohar told reporters in Nashik on Tuesday.

An urgent meeting of all senior police officers, including deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners, was held in Nashik late on Monday night to discuss the security arrangements, he added.

Police have set up 57 new police chowkies (posts), opened five control rooms and set up watch towers at important places.

Pilgrims and vehicles entering the city are being checked, he said.

Ten parking lots have been set up on the outskirts of the city. Pilgrims can make use of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses to reach the bathing ghats.

The state government has allocated 11 police companies in addition to the approximately 2,000 policemen deployed in city, Lohar said.

Bomb detection and bomb disposal squads, metal detectors, quick action forces, anti-terrorist-activity squads, additional vehicles and automatic arms have been kept ready.

To reduce the workload on the traffic police, traffic wardens, home guards and civil defence force will assist them, Lohar said.

More reports from Maharashtra