Three people die at Gangasagar Mela in WB, five more taken ill

Three deaths at Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal; NDRF teams deployed, personalised certificates for pilgrims, and safety measures in place.

Three people have died at the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal this year, which includes one who drowned while taking a dip at the ghats on Sagar Island in front of the Kapil Muni temple.

NDRF officials said a body was recovered from ghat number three of the Kapil Muni temple at 7 a.m. on Monday. The state government has not provided any cause of death. Five persons were airlifted from the mela after falling ill over the past three days.

The organisers announced on Monday that the holy dip for Makar Sankranti will begin on Tuesday at 6.58 a.m. on Tuesday and continue until 6.58 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

West Bengal Minister for Power and Youth Affairs Minister Aroop Biswas stated that a total of 55 lakh pilgrims have arrived on the island since the beginning of January. For precise information about the location of buses, launches, and vessels, the district administration is utilising ISRO-developed NavIC technology at the Gangasagar Mela 2025. This system helps guide lost passenger vessels from the mega control room. All vehicles are being monitored using GPS tracking, and the Pilgrim Transport Management System (PTMS) is overseeing transportation around the clock.

The organisers of the fair have arranged guides known as “Sagar Bandhus,” who have been assigned to every bus for the pilgrims’ assistance. Water pouches are being distributed, and 14 mobile treatment units have been deployed. To preserve memories of the pilgrimage, devotees are receiving personalised certificates with their photos from “Bandhan” photo booths. There is a total of 13 Bandhan photo booths at the fair, and nearly 400,000 pilgrims have collected their certificates so far.

So far, 46 incidents of pickpocketing have been reported; stolen items have been recovered in 40 of these cases. Also, 42 people were arrested for other offences. Additionally, 803 out of 853 pilgrims who were reported missing at the fair have been reunited with their families with the help of the administration and volunteers.

The NDRF has deployed five specialised search and rescue teams. The teams, drawn from the 2nd Battalion of the NDRF, have been stationed at key locations within the Mela area, including Mela Ground, Lot-8, Kachuberia, Namkhana, and Benuban. The deployment aims to provide swift responses to emergencies, enhancing safety measures at the Mela, which runs from 10 January to 18 January.