PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Haridwar
On the occasion of Somvati Amavasya, thousands of devotees thronged Haridwar. Devotees took a holy dip at various ghats of the Ganga, including Har Ki Pauri. Amidst the huge crowds, the Kumbh Mela administration and police exercised special vigilance to ensure smooth functioning of the arrangements made.
The Mela officer Sonika, along with senior Mela administration and police officials, inspected the Mela control building. From the CCR tower, she assessed the movement of devotees, crowd pressure and traffic flow at Har Ki Pauri and the surrounding ghats. She also reviewed the CCTV network, crowd monitoring system, traffic control system and coordination among departments.
She later stated that the major bathing festivals held in Haridwar are not only religious events but also an important opportunity to assess preparations for the upcoming Ardh Kumbh Mela. “During these events, the efficiency of the arrangements is tested in real-world conditions, allowing for the development of effective strategies to anticipate future challenges,” she said.
She further said that the Mela administration is conducting a detailed analysis of data related to crowd density, major routes of movement of devotees, emergency response time and traffic management. “We are strengthening the technology-based monitoring system, real-time crowd analytics, better traffic management and integrated command and control centre for the upcoming Kumbh congregation,” she added.
The additional Mela officer Dayanand Saraswati and additional superintendent of police (Communication) Vipin Kumar were also present during the inspection.
