Thaipusam 2024: Batu Caves to Receive 2 Million Visitors This Year

Police in Selangor are gearing up for an anticipated two million attendees during the upcoming Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves this year. Selangor police chief Comm. Dato’ Hussein Omar Khan disclosed that 1,600 policemen will be deployed to Batu Caves throughout the festive period to guarantee the safety and security of attendees.

In the preceding year, the event garnered a significant attendance of 1.5 million visitors. Drawing upon information supplied by the temple management, projections for this year’s celebration suggest an even more substantial turnout, with expectations set at approximately two million individuals. The anticipation of a larger crowd underscores the growing popularity and significance of Thaipusam among the Hindu community in Malaysia.

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In order to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic, seven nearby roads have been shut down until January 28. Commissioner Hussein highlighted the necessity of narrowing several lanes to manage the increased number of visitors. Information regarding the road closures has been conspicuously posted near the Batu Caves roundabout and on the police’s social media platforms.

The impacted roads include Jalan Perusahaan, which leads to the Batu Caves temple, the intersections of Sri Batu Caves towards the MRR2, and the Jalan Bunga Raya intersection heading to Batu Caves.

Comm. Hussein highlighted the establishment of “static points” around the temple area where the public can seek police assistance. Furthermore, he stressed that the airspace surrounding the temple has been declared a ‘no-fly zone’ for drones. Those desiring to fly drones in the area must secure permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and notify the district police headquarters beforehand.

These stringent security measures aim to ensure the safety and well-being of the massive crowds expected to partake in the Thaipusam festivities at Batu Caves.

Source: The Star