1,600 cameras to monitor 15cr crowd at Magh Mela

Prayagraj: With millions of devotees and pilgrims expected to flock to the banks of the Ganga during the 44-day Magh Mela, commencing on Jan 3, the Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC), set up in the mela area, is all set to assist the men-in-khaki in managing the crowd.The state govt estimates that this year more than 15 crore people will attend the Magh Mela. With such a massive influx of devotees, crowd security is a major challenge for the Mela police. Mela police officials maintain that the ICCC plays an important role in managing the massive crowd during the mammoth gathering, specifically during the 6 special snan days, such as Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchmi, Maghi Purnima, and the Maha Shivratri snan festival.SP (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey shared that as many as 1,600 cameras are being connected, which monitor not only the mela area but also the entire city. Surveillance is conducted from 3 angles: security, crowd management, and crime prevention.Pandey claimed, "With the cameras, we can monitor aspects like crowd flow, surveillance, and fire safety. For crowd management, cops 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."In addition to crowd management, the cameras also aid in fire surveillance. "Cops on duty monitor for any signs of smoke or flame," said Pandey. "Parking areas are also under constant surveillance. 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 walking distance for the devotees."The SP, meanwhile, said, "There are seven main routes connecting Prayagraj to other cities. Keeping this in mind, parking arrangements are strategically made in all directions to ensure smooth traffic flow and accommodate the influx of visitors during the events."The SP also stressed the significant role of AI-enabled cameras during mammoth gathering events, which often help in decision-making. "AI-driven cameras unquestionably increase the capacity to manage crowd control, but trained and experienced policemen play a major role in crowd regulation," said a senior cop, adding that data-based evidence also assists policemen in enhancing their mechanisms.The fact was that AI-driven cameras are installed at all critical and sensitive locations within the mela area, including ghats, major roads, and bridges. "These cameras send real-time information on crowd movement and assist in assessing crowd density at key locations like the Sangam," he added.