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Maha Kumbh: AI-Powered CCTV for Crowd Control, Bus to Detect Breast Cancer

Maha Kumbh: AI-Powered CCTV for Crowd Control, Bus to Detect Breast Cancer

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NEW DELHI, Jan 20: To tackle the rush of devotees at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and to predict sudden surges in crowd numbers, the Uttar Pradesh government authorities are relying on CCTV cameras equipped with Artificial Intelligence.

Approximately 50 to 60 lakh people are present every day within the fair precincts. On the days ascribed for the ritual bath the numbers surge. On Paush Purnima, for instance, Prayagraj witnessed 1.6 crore people taking a dip in the holy waters, while on Makar Sankranti which fell on the next day on January 14, the figure swelled up to around 3.5 crore. During the next major bathing day on January 29 known as Mauni Amavasya, it has been estimated that around six to seven crore people will participate in the ritual bathing, authorities said.

To cope and handle such a large gathering, around 2,700 CCTV cameras have been installed across Prayagraj for the festival that goes on from January 13 to February 26. Out of these, 1,800 are in the fair area. The cameras are being monitored across four Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCC) within the fair area.

The CCTVs are being monitored by 400 people in the four ICCCs. A team of policemen was seen monitoring round the clock live visuals streamed from the CCTV cameras on big screens. The administration has deployed a separate staff for all the other three ICCCs.

Crowd management, crime management, and security are the three aspects from which monitoring is being done, said Amit Kumar, Superintendent of Police in-charge of ICCCs at the Maha Kumbh. Out of the 1,800 CCTV cameras fitted across the fair space, around 160 are AI-enabled, he said.

Calculating crowd density per square metre using AI technology, the authorities are estimating the number of people present in a particular area at a particular point of time. Estimates are also being made for the number of pilgrims expected on major bathing days. AI is also being used for evacuation in case of fire incidents like the one on Sunday in which around 40 huts and 60 tents were gutted.

“This is the first time in the world that AI is being used for crowd management at this scale,” Mr Kumar said adding that if it was proved successful it could be used in other such major events across India. However, he added that AI models are a learning and sometimes due to low network and other technical issues, there are gaps. Also all CCTV cameras cannot be equipped with AI as it would be very expensive.

Providing more details, Vivek Chaturvedi, Additional District Magistrate of Maha Kumbh Nagar said, “There are around 16-17 entry points to the fair and by monitoring the people flow, we are able to see where there is likely to overcrowding and with the AI algorithm telling us where density will increasing further, we divert the flow of people immediately.” The AI model has an accuracy of 90-92%, he added.

A Math of Kerala at the Maha Kumbh under the guidance of spiritual leader Maa Amritanandamayi is also running a pink bus facilitating breast cancer detection in women, Sant Brahmarishi Eknath, associated with Maa Amritanandamayi Math, said the bus with the mammography facility has been prepared for Rs 4 crore. It has all the equipment required for breast cancer screening.

He said women were more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer after the age of 40. If it is detected in the first stage, it can be treated at a much lesser cost at Maa Amritanandamayi Hospital in Faridabad. Sant Brahmarishi Eknath also said a lot of women were hesitant to get breast cancer checked in time. Therefore, Amma has sent this bus for women for the first time in Maha Kumbh. It was inaugurated in Faridabad in 2022.

“Amma has also put a mobile mini hospital bus into service for this fair. This bus has an X-ray facility, pathology lab, minor operations and treatment facilities. This bus has been connected to the main hospital through satellite with the help of ISRO so that the specialised doctors of Faridabad can guide from there,” he said.

He informed that apart from this, 50 paramedical staff have come from Faridabad and Cochin who are serving in this camp and the hospital built in the fair.

(Manas Dasgupta)

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