15 lakh expected to take dip on Basant Panchami today
PRAYAGRAJ: Lakhs of devotees are expected to take holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of Basant Panchami, the fourth and one of the main bathing festivals of Magh Mela-2021 on Tuesday.
Ahead of the snan, Mela administration has completed its preparations. Security arrangements were tightened and ghats were inspected by senior police and administrative officials on Monday.
Mela officials are expecting around 15 lakh devotees to arrive for taking the holy dip at eight ghats in mela area.
Mela officer Vivek Chaturvedi and other officials carried out inspections at different sectors in mela area and gave necessary instructions to subordinates for maintaining cleanliness and laying dried grass at ghats. The officials have deployed sanitary workers in three shifts who will ensure that ghats and mela area remains clean.
Along with heavy security arrangements at different ghats, entry and exit points officials have made traffic diversions for smooth movement of pilgrims on the occasion of bathing day. The diversions came into effect from Monday itself.
Police officials are focusing on better crowd management and traffic movement.
Three parking sites have been made at Lal and Kali Sadak where vehicles will be parked. The devotees will have to proceed towards the ghats on foot after alighting from their vehicles.
Deep water barricading have been made for security of devotees and Jal Police and divers have been instructed to keep an eye at ghats.
IG Range KP Singh who carried out inspection of mela area on Monday said all arrangements are complete ahead Basant Panchami ‘snan’. Help of drone and CCTV cameras will be taken to keep an eye on crowd of devotees and managing their movement, he added.