Prayagraj: To ensure safety of pilgrims and devotees arriving in the city to take holy dips during Maha Kumbh mela next year, mela police will focus on deep water barricading with nets up to five to eight kilometres long, and detailed crowd management scheme (maintaining flow of devotees) on ghats.
Preparing for the mega religious fair to be held on the banks of Ganga next year in January, officials are busy drafting the security blueprint and primarily focusing on crowd management at ghats.The mela police have planned to set up at least two floating rescue stations cum control rooms in twin rivers and deploying trained and experienced jal policemen with diving kits with mask, rescue tubes, life jackets and other life- saving equipment.
Bhanu Bhaskar, additional DG of Prayagraj zone, told TOI, “Mela police is preparing a detailed blueprint for the safety and security of millions of pilgrims and devotees flocking sangam to take holy dip during 2025 Maha Kumbh festival. Mela police will focus on deep water barricading to check cases of drowning and regulation on flow of the crowd on all ghats to avoid congestion.”
Duties of around 1000 personnel from PAC (flood relief) and jal police will be assigned to take care of pilgrims taking bath at ghats alone, he said, adding that this time, jal police will also use “throw bag with rope” to ensure people’s safety in case of drowning.
PAC (flood battalion) personnel will be armed with rubber boats and speed motor boats to rush to spots in case of emergency. Moreover, there will be at least four water ambulances stationed at static points to offer immediate medical help to pilgrims. Jal police will also be armed with four anaconda motor boats with changing rooms. Moreover, two-km-long river line will be constructed in Yamuna river to avoid collision of boats.

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