AI-Powered Surveillance Ensures Safety at Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj

AI Surveillance to Monitor Crowds

The Maha Kumbh takes place every 12 years and draws millions of visitors to the banks of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. Spanning over 10,000 acres, the event has become a logistical challenge, with more than a crore pilgrims and seers staying on-site, alongside an additional 20 lakh daily visitors. To streamline operations and improve safety, authorities have set up the Integrated Control Command Centre (ICCC), where officials monitor a plethora of data streaming in from more than 3,000 cameras, including 1,800 AI-enabled ones.

Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in charge of the ICCC, explained, “This is the first time in the world that AI is being used for crowd management at this scale. The cameras continuously capture data, and the system sends out real-time alerts whenever crowd density crosses a predefined threshold, prompting immediate action.”

AI-Driven Data for Crowd Management

The use of AI technology eliminates the need for guesswork and enables authorities to make data-driven decisions. Every moment of the event is under surveillance, with live feeds providing insights into crowd movement, security risks, and potential hazards. Alerts are triggered for situations such as barricade breaches, traffic convergence, or even fire incidents, allowing personnel to act swiftly and divert crowds as necessary.

Kumar further elaborated, “Our system is integrated with real-time data from ground teams, and once an alert is received, immediate steps are taken based on one of 13 contingency schemes defined in our SOPs. Whether it’s a change in traffic patterns or a fire, the technology guides us toward the best response.”

Command Centres and Ground Teams in Action

The ICCC operates in four locations across the city: the central office, along with command centres in Jhunsi and Arail areas, and an additional one stationed in the city. Over 60,000 police personnel are on the ground, working in tandem with the surveillance system to manage the crowd effectively. Additionally, cameras monitor key infrastructure such as pontoon bridges, entry gates, and the ghats, further ensuring safety.

A cop stationed at the command centre shared, “We work in 10-hour shifts to monitor the live footage coming in from all areas. Our coordination with a dedicated call center allows us to handle complaints and emergency alerts from the pilgrims, integrating services like police, fire, ambulance, and women’s helpline into a single responsive system.”

Predicting and Preventing Congestion

As pilgrims arrive in massive numbers, predicting congestion is a critical part of managing the flow of people. Mahakumbh Nagar's Additional District Magistrate, Vivek Chaturvedi, explained that the administration works closely with railways and roadways to collect real-time data on the influx of pilgrims. This data is analyzed using AI to forecast potential congestion at entry and exit points.

Chaturvedi emphasized, “While we aim for accurate headcounts, AI allows us to predict congestion trends and implement contingency plans proactively.” The continuous monitoring ensures that no area becomes overcrowded, reducing the chances of any untoward incidents.

Overcoming Challenges with AI

The scope of crowd management at the Maha Kumbh is immense, with estimates suggesting that more than 45 crore pilgrims will visit during the 45-day event. The integration of AI allows authorities to tackle this challenge head-on, enabling smooth and safe passage for millions. The system’s predictive capabilities are helping the government avoid the tragic incidents that have marred past festivals.

In 1954, a crowd disaster at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) resulted in more than 400 deaths, with at least 36 fatalities occurring in the 2013 festival. With AI, authorities are committed to ensuring that such incidents do not occur again.

Future Applications and Lessons for Other Events

The Uttar Pradesh government is also taking steps to ensure that the lessons learned from the Maha Kumbh are applied to other large-scale events. The state has written to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy to send officers to study the AI-driven crowd management system. This move highlights the potential for expanding AI applications to other significant public events across the country.

As the event continues for the next month, authorities are confident that the integration of AI will ensure the safety of millions, marking a significant step toward more secure and efficient management of large crowds at religious gatherings.