'Kumbh Mela' begins amid tight security to ensure incident-free event
Blending traditions with modern-police techniques, the Uttar Pradesh police is all geared up for an incident-free Kumbh, the largest congregation in the world, which begins today at Prayagraj. Over 12cr people are expected to participate in the event over the next 50-days. "This Kumbh will witness the use of innovative technologies for security," state Director General of Police (DGP), OP Singh, told media yesterday.
Preparation: Real-time video analytics, real-time detection for crowd management
Singh mentioned that a modern integrated command-and-control center has been set up for 24-hour monitoring through 1,200 CCTV cameras. "There will be real-time video analytics for crowd management, real-time detection and alert algorithm in overcrowding circumstances and detection of uni or bi-directional and wrong-way movements. The Trinetra app will be used for surveillance on terrorists, criminals, and suspicious elements," he said.
Singh assures round-the-clock monitoring of social media websites
The mela will be held on an over 3,200-hectare land and Singh assured that the security forces are alert and ready to ensure an incident-free and seamless event. There would be round-the-clock monitoring of social media websites and in case of any problem, they could even be blocked, Singh said, adding that the Kumbh police stations had been integrated with the UP-100 emergency service.
Three-tier security arrangements, whole region demarcated into 9 zones
Singh said the security arrangements would be three-tier- in the Kumbh Mela region, in Prayagraj, and in the adjacent districts. "The whole region has been demarcated into nine zones and 20 sectors with the deployment of over 20,000 police personnel, 6,000 homeguards, 40 police stations, 58 outposts, 40 fire stations, 80 companies of central force and 20 companies of PAC," the DGP added.
More security arrangements: Anti-Terrorist Squad commandos, bomb-disposal units
Besides, there'd be three police lines, one traffic police line, three women police stations and 317 police response vehicles to tackle an emergency situation with a response time of less than 10 minutes, Singh said. To counter terrorist activities, Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) commandos, anti-sabotage commandos with snipers, bomb disposal units, sniffer dog squads and intelligence units have also been pressed into service, Singh said.
Facilities of rescue boats, floating jets also made available
The DGP also mentioned that there'll be mounted police. Besides, three modern water control rooms have been set up, which have rescue boats, floating jetties, deep-water barricading and a reflective river-floating line, he said, adding that remote-operated lifebuoys were also made available.
For fire, 40 fire stations, fire-fighting speedboats will be there
In case of fire, 40 fire stations have been set up in and around the venue and over 4,000 fire-hydrants, 70 high-pressure water mist motorcycles, and trolley-mounted high-pressure extinguishers will also be there. There are also fire-fighting speedboats and the Bambi Bucket system for aerial fire-fighting from helicopters, along with the presence of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams.
Drone monitoring, watch-towers, baggage scanners will be put in place
A Bambi Bucket is essentially a perfect collapsible bucket, utilizing a pilot control valve that can deliver a concentrated column of water from a helicopter. Asserting that an effective surveillance-and-communication network has been developed for the world's biggest congregation, the DGP said besides drone monitoring, watch-towers, baggage scanners, and a modern communication system will also be in place.
