Magh Mela begins in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj amid tight security

File Image

Prayagraj: The annual Magh Mela, one of the biggest religious congregations on the banks of the Sangam in Uttar Pradesh`s Prayagraj, began here on Friday on the occasion of "Paush Purnima" even as temperatures dipped further adding to the winter chill.

More than 40 lakh devotees are expected to take the holy dip in the Sangam on Friday. The number could go up further because of the lunar eclipse on Friday.

The Magh Mela also marks the beginning of the `Kalpwas` in which devotees live in segregated areas, lead an austere life and fast and pray for a month.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the Mela township this year with over 3,500 security personnel deployed there.

In view of the extreme cold weather, ambulances have been deployed around the Sangam as well as in other areas of the township to handle any emergency. These ambulances would be controlled through the Integrated Command and Control (ICCC).

The Mela township also has facilities like hospitals, primary health centres, transportation, sanitation, ghats, security, firefighting services, ration distribution, lost and found camps, potable water, pollution control and other civic amenities.

According to the police, traffic restrictions will be introduced to streamline vehicular movement on routes leading up to the Mela venue from Friday.

Besides, the entry of vehicles into the Mela ground has also been banned. The authorities have made separate arrangements for vehicles and pedestrians to avoid chaos and traffic jams on the pontoon bridges. Pedestrians would be given the priority and be allowed to pass on the pontoon bridges and Sangam area on bathing days.

Teams of STF, ATS, bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage squad would be patrolling on the ghats to ensure safety of the visitors.

Meanwhile, companies of the CRPF and PAC personnel along with hundreds of policemen have been deployed on the venue as part of security arrangements. The administration has constructed temporary ghats stretching along five kilometres for the convenience of devotees wanting to bathe in the rivers. The `Jal` Police personnel will also be deployed to check cases of drowning.

The biggest congregation of devotees is expected on January 24 on "Mauni Amawasya" when over 2.25 crore people are expected to take the holy dip in the Sangam.

This annual religious event is being held on over 661 acre land where around 2,200 sanitation workers are taking care of the sanitation and hygiene.

Around 25,000 toilets have been set up in the tent city area. Besides, 13 police stations and 40 police outposts have also been set up and 55 PCR vans have been deployed to maintain round the clock vigil.

Two hospitals of 20-bed capacity each and three hospitals each of Ayurveda and Homeopathy have been set up. These are in addition to the 10 primary health centres.