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Millions throng banks of Ganga

Millions have begun thronging the vast sandy banks of the Ganga, to take a dip in the holiest of holy Indian rivers on the most auspicious day of the six-week Kumbh Mela on Wednesday.

All roads in and around Allahabad appeared to be leading to the Triveni Sangam - the confluence of the Ganga,Yamuna and the mythical Saraswasti rivers - where a dip particularly on the Mauni Amavasya will pave a sure pathway to salvation.

With at least 20 million Hindus expected to converge along the six-km Ganga bathing ghats starting from the 'sangam' from Tuesday itself, the mela administration has taken special measures for the auspicious time commencing 05.45 hours IST on Wednesday.

Terrorist threats are being viewed seriously, in view of the mammoth gathering that will be the largest single assembly of people on the globe.

"Sniffer dogs and anti-mine squads have been activated for round-the-clock surveillance of the ghats in particular, while 10,000 policemen have been deployed to ensure smooth crowd management and to regulate pedestrian," Jeevesh Nandan, district magistrate of the Kumbh Mela, told rediff.com.

On Monday night, Chief Minister Raj Nath Singh confirmed knowledge of a terrorist threat. "We have intelligence reports that some Kashmiri militant groups had the mela on their targets, so we cannot take chances," he told rediff.com over the telephone.

Nandan said, ''Air force helicopters will be on standby to assist the civil authorities and police on Wednesday."

All vehicular traffic has been stopped not only in the 1500-hectare mela area, but even on several major thoroughfares of Allahabad city to facilitate easy movement of millions of pedestrians swarming towards the Ganga banks.

"Vehicular traffic has been stopped at several entry points to the city, where parking arrangements have been made for buses and other vehicles carrying pilgrims from different corners of the country," said Alok Sharma, senior superintendent of police of the mela.

All roads in and around the mela are getting increasingly crowded, mainly with rural folk carrying belongings in gunny bags or string-tied bundles over their heads. Men, with children on their shoulders and women with bundles on their heads were seen trudging along the mammoth tent township, on the river banks.

"We have walked about 15 miles to reach here," said Sukhpal, who had with him at least two dozen men and women coming from Rewa in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

The complete coverage: The Kumbh Mela

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