Crowd mngt at Ardh Kumbh draws researchers

Ardh Kumbh Nagar (Allahabad), Feb 1: The management and conduct ofthe ongoing Ardh Kumbh Mela here is drawing researchers from across theworld, besides crores of devotees.

Since Ardh Kumbh attracts crores of people, the Mela area isnotified as a separate district carved out of Allahabad. The veryreason that police and administration has to manage crores of floatingpopulation in and out of the 7000 acre area has attracted ChicagoUniversity's research scholar B Jaregi to the Mela.

Armed with a camera, a note book and sneakers, she is seen walkingin the sand-donned Mela area. ''I had been talking to police andsecurity personnel about their experiences,'' she said here.

Circle Officer (Sangam) O P Singh is often seen translatingdetails to the research scholar from the University's Criminologydepartment in English.

''Several such researchers have contacted us in the recentpast...we have helped them with whatever details we could provide,''said SSP (Ardh Kumbh) Rajiv Sabbarwal, who claimed that over five crorepeople have visited the Mela so far.

The Mela administration is,meanwhile, expecting 1.2 crore peopleto take a holy dip in the Sangam on Magi Purnima tomorrow. ''Peoplewould start coming from the night of February 1. The flow is expectedto continue till February 2 night,'' DM (Mela) Pragyan Ram Mishra saidhere.

In case the number of devotees is much higher, the administrationwould implement 'Scheme 7' to divert the pilgrims to the Sangam througha longer route. ''The idea is not to make the people stand...theyshould keep moving to maintain flow,'' an official said.

A section of the police force deployed at the Mela has been sent to Gorakhpur following a communal flareup there.

UNI

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