AI-based technology to be used for crowd management at Kumbh Mela 2025

by Utkalika Mohanty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Uttar Pradesh government will use artificial intelligence-based technologies and tools for crowd management at the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj.

Lucknow, June 25: The Uttar Pradesh government will use artificial intelligence-based technologies and tools for crowd management at the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the state police department to embrace the technology for the mega event.

The Chief Minister said that the scale of the event was expected to be unprecedented and therefore it was essential to create a benchmark in terms of security, cleanliness and convenience.

“The Kumbh is an interface between India’s rich religious and cultural heritage and the world. Therefore, there is a need to ensure safety, convenience and cleanliness at the event,” he said at a meeting of senior officials at his residence.

Claiming that the mela will be an opportunity to boost brand UP and brand India, the Chief Minister told officials to engage professional agencies to organise the event and spread the word on it so that pilgrims and tourists from all over the world can come over and become a part of history.

“The police department and other stakeholders must leverage the advantage of technology for effective crowd management to avert any untoward incident. A detailed action and contingency plan must be drawn up. AI-based equipment and techniques must be used to keep an eye on crowd density so that any possible clustering may be dispersed before the group upsets order in any pocket,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that the Ganga and Kalpvasis were the spirit of the Maha Kumbh and directed officials to ensure that the mela was organised around the green theme.

He also said the departments concerned must ensure a clean Ganga from Bijnor to Ballia.

Officials, who attended the meeting, said that compared to 2019, when the Kumbh was spread across 3200 hectares, the 2025 Mela would be organised in an area of 4000 hectares.

The Chief Minister also directed police to train and sensitise the personnel for the mela duty.

“They must be warm, soft-spoken and dignified, yet affirmative while dealing with pilgrims and visitors,” he said and also scanned through tourism department projects taking shape in the wake of the mela.

“The corridor connecting Akshay Vat, Saraswati Koop, and Patalpuri Temple should be completed at the earliest and help from the Indian Army unit in Prayagraj may be sought to accelerate the progress of the project,” he said.

He also directed organisers to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for international VIP and VVIP guests.

The Urban Development Department said that over 1.5 lakh toilets will be made on the ground for the convenience of the pilgrims. They added that more than 10,000 sanitation workers will be engaged to ensure that these toilets remain functional.

--IANS

Read National News

Odisha Constitutes Committee For Translation Of MBBS Course Books Into Odia Language

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bhubaneswar, July 4: The Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) department of Odisha has constituted a committee of experts to prepare a proposal for the translation of essential text books of the MBBS education into Odia language.

The 22-member committee chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Manash Ranjan Sahoo, the Vice chancellor of Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS), has also been asked to submit the proposal to the H&FW within 15 days for its implementation.

As per the notification issued by the state H&FW department on Thursday, the committee comprises faculties from various medical colleges such as AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur etc., and officials of OUHS, Bhubaneswar and Odia Bhasha Pratisthan, BBSR.

"In view of the mandate to provide medical education in Odia language in the state, a committee as detailed below is hereby constituted to examine the matter, identify the essential course books for MBBS education required to be translated into Odia language, and workout timelines and budget requirement for undertaking this task," reads the office order.

The committee will suggest to the government the volume of works to be undertaken for the purpose of translation and the timeline it required for getting the work done.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has promised in its manifesto during the election campaign to provide legal, medical and engineering courses in Odia language.

--IANS

Mumbai Erupts To Celebrate 'Team India Festival' With T-20 World Cup Victors

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Mumbai, July 4: Lakhs of Mumbaikars gushed into a spirited celebration of 'Team India festival' along with the beaming Men In Blue T-20 World Cup victors here on Thursday evening.

Much before the team members landed in a Vistara flight from Delhi, thousands of people had gathered outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), the entire road from the airport to Nariman Point and also the 1.8-km long route to the Wankhede Stadium.

As the clock ticked off, the crowds swelled into lakhs, lining up outside the CSMIA and on both sides of the road, with a sea of humanity at Marine Drive, barely a few feet away from the Arabian Sea shore, waving the Indian Tricolour, carrying congratulatory placards for Team India or one of their favourite icons.

The mood of the people was as bright as the skies were somber with dark monsoon clouds threatening to bathe the crowds anytime but fortunately, there were only intermittent light showers that did not actually dampen the public enthusiasm.

The crowd chanted slogans like 'We Love You, Team India', 'Team India Zindabad', 'Mumbaicha Raja, Rohit Sharma', and more at various locations en route, marking the joy as the World Cup came to India after a gap of 17 years after 2007.

The celebrations uncorked right at the CSMIA tarmac with a Guard of Honour at the airside, and Follow Me cars escorting the team aircraft to the airport terminal stand, where it was accorded a special 'Water Salute'.

Thereafter, the team and accompanying officials alighted from the aircraft, quickly walked through the Indian Tricolour draped aerobridge, as they were greeted with a floral cascade showered on them in the arrival corridor.

The CSMIA had thoughtfully rolled out the red carpet for the Men In Blue, followed by a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony at the terminal adorned with shades of the tricolour.

The team members rode in beautifully decorated buggies to two waiting gleaming white buses, and outside there was the deafening cacophony of the traditional Maharashtrian dhol-tasha, tutari and lezim, making the arrival truly grand and a sight of national pride and happiness.

The CSMIA's top management felicitated the team members and escorted them with thunderous cheers outside, where more people were waiting to give them a grand reception and hearty welcome.

As the crowd kept surging, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spoke to the Commissioner of Police Vivek Phansalkar to ensure full precautions, while Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis appealed to all people to exercise restraint amid their excitement and fervour.

The buses, with a long retinue of police pilot cars, side-cars and tailing cars, zoomed out of the airport, took a left turn to the Western Express Highway and at a medium speed drove along towards Bandra.

They were followed by a long queue of cars and SUVs carrying the equally excited paparazzi, many camera persons emerging out of the roof-windows to catch every movement as the buses proceeded towards Nariman Point.

On both sides, hordes of fans screamed, shouted, danced, jumped and on catching a glimpse, lustily cheered their heroes arriving after conquering the T-20 Tourney to bag the coveted World Cup Trophy.

The buses rolled onto the iconic Bandra Worli Sea Link, almost invisible against a grey cloudy backdrop and after traversing it, proceeded towards Nariman Point.

Team India heroes stepped out of the buses and hopped onto the open deck special bus brought from Gujarat for the victory rally, sporting the teams colours, some photos of the players and the trophy printed and proclamations of 'Champions 2024', as the wild crowds on both sides of the picturesque Marine Drive roared an incessant thunderous welcome to their icons.

En route, the team-members also reciprocated in equal measure.

Captain Rohit Sharma was seen punching in the skies often, hugging his co-players, embracing Coach Rahul Dravid, some of the other players, though a tad weary, waved the Indian Tricolour, smiled, waved and expressed their own joy at bagging the World Cup.

Some of the heroes on the upper deck included Jay Shah, Rajeev Shukla, Hardik Pandya holding aloft the trophy for the benefit of the raring crowd, who took a 'darshan' and clicked selfies/videos.

As a veil of darkness enveloped the road, it was time for mobile torches, flashlights and even the streetlights adding to the excitement of colours, and appearing like a horde of fireflies interrupted by the flashing lights of the police vehicles.

After the short and leisurely, 1.8-km long ride, the bus finally reached the gates of the Wankhede Stadium, for another jamboree with the venue again chock-full of exhilarated fans and cricket-lovers.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

--IANS

Another Case Filed In Bihar Against Rahul Gandhi For Remarks On Hindus

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Patna July 4: After Muzaffarpur, a case has been filed against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, in Bihar's Sheohar district for his comments on Hindus made on the floor of the House on Monday.

Nitesh Kumar Giri, the complaint, has accused Rahul Gandhi of hurting the sentiments of a particular community with his 'derogatory' remarks in the Lok Sabha against Hindus.

The case registered under Sections 299 and 302 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sahita (BNS) has been admitted by a court in Sheohar, and the matter will come up for hearing on July 18.

According to Prabhashankar Singh, the lawyer representing Nitesh Kumar Giri, his client is actively engaged in social and political work in the region.

“Giri was watching the parliamentary proceedings on television when he heard Rahul Gandhi make derogatory remarks about Hindus and Sanatan Dharma, displaying images of Hindu gods disrespectfully. Giri said the incident caused him significant distress,” Singh said.