AI-Enabled Cameras and Drones Deployed in Prayagraj to Ensure Safety During Basant Panchami Snan
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: As millions prepare to take the sacred Basant Panchami Snan at the Triveni Sangam this week, authorities in Prayagraj have deployed cutting-edge AI-enabled cameras and drones, marking a modern-tech approach to crowd monitoring and safety management during one of the largest religious gatherings in India. These measures are part of a broader security and surveillance plan by local police and administration to ensure that devotees can participate in the holy dip with minimal risk.
High-Tech Surveillance Meets Tradition
With lakhs of devotees expected to converge at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers — especially during the Magh Mela 2026 season — officials have integrated advanced technology to oversee crowd movements and respond promptly to emergencies. Prayagraj Additional Police Commissioner Ajay Pal Sharma announced that the entire fair area has been brought under the watch of AI-enabled cameras and drones, providing real-time insights into crowd density and movement patterns.
Unlike conventional CCTV systems, these AI-enabled devices are designed to identify irregularities, potential choke points and security threats quickly. The AI software can analyse video feeds to detect overcrowding or sudden surges in specific zones, enabling security teams to act before situations escalate. The drones, equipped with high-resolution cameras and intelligent tracking systems, provide aerial perspectives of the sprawling mela area, giving planners and police a bird’s-eye view of crowd distribution.
In addition to technological tools, authorities have placed teams from specialised units such as the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Special Task Force (STF) and Anti-National Terrorism Force (ANTF) across strategic points. Water police personnel have also been stationed along key ghats to supervise devotees taking the holy dip.
Comprehensive Safety Planning
Security preparations began well before Basant Panchami, which falls on January 23, 2026 this year. An inter-district traffic diversion plan went into effect from midnight to keep heavy vehicles away from the mela area and streamline the flow of pilgrims. Security officials underscored the importance of ensuring that devotees can make their way to the sacred spot without encountering traffic bottlenecks or safety obstacles.
Traditionally, the Basant Panchami Snan, an auspicious ritual where devotees take a holy dip in the Sangam, attracts huge crowds. This year, preparations have been scaled up significantly due to the overlap with regional festivals and the ongoing Magh Mela season. In 2026, the Magh Mela — a 45-day annual pilgrimage — continues to draw an enormous number of visitors who see the occasion as a spiritually significant moment to cleanse their sins.
The use of drones and AI represents a technological leap in managing large crowds, building on earlier experiences from mega-events like the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, where similar systems were used to ensure safety and smooth operations. That event saw the deployment of advanced cameras and aerial surveillance technologies to handle tens of millions of pilgrims over several weeks.
Technology in Service of Devotion
The AI systems work in conjunction with human personnel to achieve a comprehensive security grid: while cameras and drones feed continuous inputs to command-control centres, on-ground teams interpret the data and implement real-time responses. This synergy is intended to prevent overcrowding, reduce response times during medical or safety incidents, and enhance overall event coordination.
Officials emphasise that these technologies do not replace the human element but augment officers’ capacity to manage vast and dynamic crowds. For example, if a drone detects excessive gathering near a particular ghat, officers on the ground can be dispatched immediately to manage flow or provide guidance to devotees.
Public Cooperation and Awareness
Authorities have also appealed to the public to cooperate with safety protocols and follow designated routes to the ghats. In addition to surveillance, loudspeaker announcements and signages have been arranged to help devotees navigate the terrain and avoid congested spots. Traffic management teams are deploying diversions and no-vehicle zones to minimise gridlock around the mela campus and adjacent city areas.
As Basant Panchami brings together faith and festivity, officials hope that the use of modern surveillance tools will set an example of how technology can be harnessed to protect life and facilitate peaceful religious celebrations. Ultimately, the AI-driven monitoring strategy reflects a concerted effort to blend tradition with innovation — safeguarding devotion while embracing cutting-edge solutions for public safety.
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