Mahakumbh Mela begins, lakhs of pilgrims take dip at Haridwar
Haridwar: Hundreds of thousands of Hindus braved icy winds on Thursday to take holy dip in river Ganges on the first day of Kumbh Mela, the religious fair that occurs once in 12 years, in Haridwar. It is said taking a holy dip in Ganges enable people to
cleanse them of their sins. Tight security arrangements have been put in place to
prevent any untoward incident. Snipers, riot police and cops in plain clothes keeping
a close watch to help prevent potential militant attacks, stampedes and petty crime.
Anand Vardhan, official-in-charge of the Kumbh Mela arrangements, said they were
watching the visitors from the moment they entered the town's boundaries until the
time they left. "We have different levels of checking, frisking randomly, and (we are)
keeping an eye open. We have different watchers, spotters, who are keeping a close
watch on everyone. We have more than 120 CCTV cameras from which we get
input directly into our fair control room which is seen and monitored 24 hours a day."
Officials said by noon, about 250,000 people took the holy dip at Har-ki-Pauri,
the main bathing area which has stepped banks on either side of the Ganges river.
The mela began on the auspicious occasion of 'Makar Sakranti'. Officials claimed
that around eight lakh people have already reached Haridwar, that included people
of different religions. Security has been tightened for the event. The State
Government has asked the Centre and neighbouring states to send additional forces
to monitor security arrangements in the city. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh
Pokhriyal Nishank has said all steps would be taken to ensure incident-free fair. "The
successful conduct of the Mahakumbh fair has been the utmost priority of my
government, for which heavy security has been put in place," Nishank said. "All
arrangements have been made. Security forces have been deployed at 130 sq km
area to ensure that no untoward incident occurs," said Anand Vardhan, Kumbh Mela
incharge. Vardhan further said that tight security arrangements have been made at all
entry points, and around 39 CCTV cameras have been installed to keep a close vigil.
Around 800 CRPF personnel, 200 RAF personnel and 400 CISF men have been
deployed on the first day of the Kumbh Mela, said Alok Sharma, a senior police
official. There are further plans to deploy BSF and ITBP personnel, Sharma added.
The security has also been stepped up along the Delhi-Haridwar national highway
and 17 new police outposts have been set up, said Muzaffarnagar Superintendent of
Police Rajiv Malhotra. Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri and Haridwar regions of Uttarakhand
have been notified as Mahakumbh Nagar.
