Maha Kumbh 2025: Congress leader Surendra Singh Rajput on Friday hinted at the possibility of senior party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attending the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.
When asked about their participation, Rajput said, "It is a social festival in which crores of people take a dip in River Ganga. From Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to every senior Congress leader and Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh have attended this festival. This time as well, there is a strong possibility of attending the entire Maha Kumbh. If God wants, then Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi will surely come here."
7 Crore Devotees Visit Maha Kumbh Mela In 6 Days, UP Govt Estimates 45 Crore More To Attend
The Maha Kumbh Mela, which commenced this week, has already witnessed over seven crore devotees, Kalpavasis, and revered seers taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. According to an official statement, the Uttar Pradesh government estimates that more than 45 crore people will visit the grand religious gathering this time, news agency PTI reported.
With such a massive influx of devotees, ensuring crowd security has emerged as a significant challenge for the Maha Kumbh Police. However, the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), set up within the fairgrounds, is playing a crucial role in managing the crowd and enhancing surveillance. The statement highlighted that the ICCC had been instrumental in managing the heavy turnout, particularly during key events such as the Paush Purnima Snan and Amrit Snan on Makar Sankranti.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Kumar, who oversees the ICCC, stated that 2,750 cameras have been installed to monitor not just the fairgrounds but also the entire city. "Surveillance is conducted from three angles: security, crowd management, and crime prevention," the statement quoted Kumar as saying.
He elaborated that the cameras help track crowd movement, congestion levels, and even fire safety. "For crowd management, we track the flow of people, where the crowd is concentrated, and how to regulate it. This technique helps us direct the crowd to areas with less congestion," he explained.
The ICCC also plays a crucial role in fire safety, with cameras actively monitoring for signs of smoke or flames. Additionally, all parking areas are under constant surveillance, ensuring efficient traffic management. "Cameras installed in each parking lot indicate whether they are full or empty. When a parking lot reaches its capacity, we close it and direct vehicles to the next available lot. The nearest parking is filled first to minimise the walking distance for the bathers," Kumar said.
Considering that seven main routes connect Prayagraj to other cities, the authorities have made parking arrangements in all directions to facilitate smooth traffic flow.
Kumar also highlighted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) cameras in managing the crowd. "AI cameras increase our capacity to manage crowd control, which is unprecedented at such a large scale. Our forces are trained institutionally, but having data-based evidence helps further enhance our skills," he said. However, he clarified that AI cameras are not entirely relied upon for decision-making.
To ensure seamless monitoring, four ICCC units have been established within the fairgrounds. In case of emergencies, an additional unit can be activated for better coordination. Cameras have also been placed at all critical and sensitive locations, including ghats, major roads, and bridges.
"These cameras provide us with real-time information on crowd movement and help assess the crowd density at key locations like the Sangam. The cameras help us understand how people gather during such events, and we can monitor areas with higher crowd densities, such as at the ghats, while other areas remain less crowded," Kumar said, as per PTI.