WB-GANGASAGAR

Over 30 lakh pilgrims

from across the country and neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal

took holy dip at the confluence of the River Ganga and the Bay

of Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti Tuesday, the

state government said.

Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata

Mukherjee said the pilgrims also offered prayers at the Kapil

Muni Temple.

Mukherjee, who has been assigned the task of

monitoring the arrangement for the pilgrims along with his

cabinet colleagues Power Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay and

PWD Minister Aroop Biswas, told reporters that the gathering

was over 30 lakh, compared to last year's 20 lakh.

Every year, on Makar Sankranti day, lakhs of Hindu

pilgrims flock to Ganga Sagar to take a dip and offer prayers

in the Kapil Muni Temple.

"Last year, over 20 lakh pilgrims had visited the

Ganga Sagar. This year, it has crossed 30 lakh mark despite

Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj. It was absolutely peaceful and the

pilgrims have also appreciated our arrangement," Mukherjee

said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also been

monitoring the fair and has been advsing the officials from

time to time.

Four persons have so far died of cardiac arrests,

while police have arrested 50 persons for petty crime.

A thick blanket of security cover has been thrown in

and around the Mela premises.

The state government deployed a huge contingent of

security personnel and volunteers, besides pressing into

service 20 drones to keep a tab on security. It also equipped

its officials with satellite phones to ensure uninterrupted

connectivity during the Mela.

Over 800 CCTV and 200 balloon cameras have been

installed to aid security of the grand fair.

The state disaster management department has made

arrangements to receive live feed from the mela for effective

monitoring of the proceedings.

Several giant LED screens have been placed at

different points through which pilgrims are being updated on

the timings of trains, buses and ferries. Tide timings as well

as safety tips are also being announced in Bengali, Hindi and

English.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has enhanced its

surveillance along the coastline of West Bengal for the

Ganga Sagar Mela, an official said.