E-Paper
40 lakh pilgrims take dip in Ganga
Nearly 40 lakh pilgrims today took a holy dip in the river Ganga here on the occasion of Baisakhi as the three-month-long Mahakumbh mela draws to a close with the last royal bath scheduled for tomorrow.
Nearly 40 lakh pilgrims today took a holy dip in the river Ganga here on the occasion of Baisakhi as the three-month-long Mahakumbh mela draws to a close with the last royal bath scheduled for tomorrow.
"Around 40 lakh pilgrims have so far taken bath in the river Ganga and the number of devotees is expected to cross the mark of 50 lakh by this evening," DIG Kumbh Mela Alok Sharma said.
No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere, Sharma added.
Har-Ki-Pauri and other bathing ghats in Haridwar and Rishikesh were flooded with pilgrims, while police personnel were helping the aged and handicapped.
Considering the huge rush of pilgrims for the last royal bath of Mesh Sankranti tomorrow, traffic regulations have already been put in place.
Administration has deployed 25 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary, 20 companies of Rapid Police Force, 10 companies of Rapid Action Force and 10 companies of Indo-Tibetan Border Police along with the regular police force at the mela area.
The three-month-long mela which began on January 14 with Makar Sankranti, would culminate on April 14.
