With the recent death of 39 pilgrims in a stampede fresh in mind, a tight security ring was put in place as an estimated 1.5 million devotees and 70,000 mahants and sadhus on Monday attended the final shahi snan of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik.
Separate entry and exit for pilgrims and sadhus were charted out to enable everyone to take a dip in the Godavari River.
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Govindrao Adik, Director General of Police O P Bali, Additional DGP K K Kashyap and Police Commissioner P T Lohar, constantly monitored the arrangements.
Commoners were allowed to bathe by 1045 IST after mahants and sadhus belonging to the Vaishanav sect and Nirmohi, Digambar and Nirvani akhadas completed their snan.
