MAHAKUMBH NAGAR, Jan 13: On the first day of the Maha Kumbh Mela, over 250 individuals found their families after being separated in the bustling crowds, thanks to a blend of digital initiatives and traditional policing efforts. This significant reunion took place during the Paush Purnima bathing festival in Prayagraj, where more than 1.5 crore devotees gathered for a sacred dip in the revered Triveni Sangam, with the event set to conclude on February 26.
To manage the massive influx of visitors, the Uttar Pradesh government established various crowd-control measures, including ‘Bhula-Bhatka’ camps, police assistance centers, and stationed personnel on specially constructed watchtowers throughout the Mela.
The dedicated camps included specific areas for lost women and children, alongside ‘Khoya-Paya’ (Lost and Found) centres equipped with digital tools and social media support. The Uttar Pradesh Police revealed that 10 advanced digital ‘Khoya-Paya Kendras’ were strategically placed throughout the Mela grounds. These centres offered waiting rooms, medical facilities, and refreshments for women and children, ensuring prompt assistance for attendees, according to officials.
ADG Bhanu Bhaskar noted that each center featured 55-inch LED screens linked to a public address system to provide live updates about missing persons and belongings. Additionally, they offered vital information regarding ghat arrangements and navigational routes.
The centers are digitally documenting information on lost individuals and items, issuing computerized receipts for reference, and displaying photos and details of missing persons on the LED screens for easier identification. All centers are interconnected through a modern communication network.
Bhaskar mentioned that information is also disseminated via Facebook, X, and WhatsApp to broaden the means of locating missing individuals and items, with digital centers aiding in the recovery of lost children, mobile phones, wallets, and other possessions.
Furthermore, enquiry centers have been set up across the fairgrounds to provide additional support for pilgrims, as noted by the ADG.
In the traditional setup, loudspeakers along the ghats announced names of missing individuals, enabling swift reunions, while police and civil defense personnel actively assisted attendees on-site.
Nitesh Kumar Dwivedi, a warden with Uttar Pradesh Civil Defence, emphasized the extensive efforts put forth right from the start.
“Under the supervision of our department and Mela authorities, we have reunited hundreds of families. In the first one-and-a-half hours alone, our civil defense teams helped return around 200 to 250 people to their families,” Dwivedi told PTI Videos, acknowledging the challenge of managing a crowd larger than initially anticipated.
The emotional reunions led many attendees to express their profound gratitude to the Mela authorities. Ajay Goyal, a pilgrim from Delhi, recounted his experience of being separated for an hour.
“The announcements made all the difference,” said Goyal, beaming. “Just before we got separated, we joked about how this happens in those old Bollywood films. Fortunately, we found each other again right here at the Mela.”
However, not everyone experienced such luck. Sujata Jha, who arrived with 13 family members for a dip at the Sangam, expressed concern for her family.
“It’s been two to three hours, and I still can’t find them. My name has been called multiple times, but there’s been no response. I’m waiting here in my wet clothes, and my belongings are with them,” she shared with PTI Videos near a police assistance center.
Omwati, an elderly woman from Nigohi in the Shahjahanpur district, relayed a similar story.
“I came with two companions, but they got separated from me. Now, I’m all alone,” she said, her distress evident.
Despite such touching tales, the administrative arrangements received commendation. Ajay Goyal noted, “The announcements and ‘Lost and Found’ centers are an excellent system. It’s impressive to see how quickly the authorities respond.”
The UP government, in its official statement, highlighted the extensive efforts made to ensure the Mela’s smooth operation, emphasizing that the ‘Khoya-Paya’ centres utilized technology and social media platforms to help locate individuals who have become separated.
Meanwhile, police and volunteers at the ghats are diligently working to assist devotees and maintain order.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, taking place after 12 years, is expected to attract between 40 crore to 45 crore visitors by February 26, as per estimates from the UP government. (PTI)
