Organizers of the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest Hindu pilgrimage, are utilizing artificial intelligence to manage crowds and mitigate the risk of stampedes. The festival, which attracts millions of devotees, has historically faced tragic incidents of crowd crushes. This year, authorities have deployed advanced technology including cameras, drones, and AI algorithms to monitor crowd density and prevent potential dangers.
Organizers of the Kumbh Mela , the world's largest human gathering, are employing artificial intelligence to enhance crowd management and prevent stampedes. This year's festival, a millennia-old Hindu ritual bathing and piety observance, is predicted to attract up to 400 million pilgrims. The event, which commenced on Monday and will continue for six weeks, is notorious for deadly crowd crushes that have marred past iterations.
One of the most tragic incidents occurred in 1954, when over 400 people perished in a stampede, making it one of the deadliest crowd-related disasters globally. Another 36 fatalities were recorded in 2013 during the last Kumbh Mela held in Prayagraj. This year, authorities aim to mitigate these risks with advanced technology. The festival site and surrounding roads are equipped with approximately 300 cameras, strategically placed on poles and mounted on drones, providing comprehensive surveillance. A dedicated command and control room, staffed by police officers and technicians, monitors the network in real-time. An AI algorithm analyzes footage from these cameras, providing estimates of crowd sizes and density across vast areas. This data is cross-referenced with information from railway and bus operators to ensure accuracy. The system generates alerts if crowd concentrations reach dangerous levels, potentially preventing stampedes. A key feature of this system is its ability to accommodate the 'personal bubble' of individuals, which is more expansive in India compared to Western countries. The critical threshold for crowd density, at which the AI system triggers an alarm, is set higher to account for this cultural difference. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a devout Hindu monk overseeing the festival, has characterized this year's Kumbh Mela as a confluence of faith and modernity. Pilgrims, including 28-year-old automotive engineer Harshit Joshi, express a sense of security due to the enhanced surveillance measures
Religion Disaster Prevention Kumbh Mela Artificial Intelligence Crowd Management India Pilgrimage Stampede Prevention Technology Religion Disaster Preparedness
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