New Delhi: Maha Kumbh began on Monday, January 13, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The 45-day mega event will end on February 26. According to the Uttar Pradesh government, 40 to 45 crore people will visit Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh Mela. Since the Maha Kumbh Mela started, over seven crore people have visited the Maha Kumbh Mela. But how is the Maha Kumbh Mela or Kumbh Mela crowd counted? Let us understand in this article.
AI-Powered Crowd Monitoring at Maha Kumbh Mela
The Maha Kumbh is the world’s largest religious gathering, now combining tradition and technology. The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, uses advanced tools to manage many devotees.
The government has set up over 1,500 CCTV cameras in the Kumbh Mela area to track the millions of pilgrims. About 700 of these are temporary, while the others are permanent. Many cameras use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse crowd density and accurately count people at the event. The cameras are placed at 48 ghats, allowing a trained team to assess crowds in real-time.
Drones are also being used for monitoring. They capture aerial images and provide a central team with data about crowd density.
This combination of AI cameras and drones ensures accurate counting and helps identify crowded or risky areas. However, counting the exact number of devotees is challenging, especially with those returning for multiple visits. But, AI is believed to help improve accuracy.
Media reports say that the AI cameras update the crowd data every minute from 2 am to 7 pm, focusing mainly on devotees at the ghats.
The government has launched a mobile tracking app that estimates the number of people based on active mobile devices nearby. This app adds an extra layer of accuracy to the counting process.
A central Command and Control Centre in Prayagraj manages crowd levels. Police officials and technical experts monitor crowds using a dashboard that receives real-time data from AI systems. They can quickly respond if any area experiences heavy traffic.
Integrating Traditional Crowd Counting Methods
Traditional methods still play a vital role. The local intelligence unit helps gather important data, and the administration monitors parking lots and railway stations to track the number of people arriving by bus, car, or train.
How much time does a devotee spend bathing in ghat?
Data from Radio Frequency (RF) wristbands used at the Maha Kumbh has shown that, on average, devotees spend 45 minutes at the bathing ghats during major festival days like Paush Purnima and Makar Sankranti. This time includes their arrival and departure after taking a ritual bath.
The wristbands, containing RFID chips, help manage the large influx of visitors. They track how long people spend at the ghats and help accurately count total attendance at the Maha Kumbh. This information is crucial for managing this significant religious event.
The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj utilised a sophisticated system combining AI-powered CCTV cameras, drones, and a mobile tracking app to monitor and count the massive influx of devotees. Traditional methods like monitoring transportation hubs and local intelligence also contributed. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
