Prayagraj: Braving intense cold, over 1.25 crore devotees, kalpavasis, and saints have displayed an unrelenting spirit by taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam in just 10 days of Magh Mela. The state govt expects a whopping 15 crore-plus visitors this time.Securing the Sangam banks is a massive task for the Mela Police, with millions of devotees flocking in to seek spiritual liberation. However, the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) is a total game-changer. It’s not just controlling crowds, but also keeping a hawk’s eye on everything via surveillance.The ICCC was a lifesaver on Magh Mela’s first day, handling a massive crowd of 31 lakh devotees who took the holy dip on Paush Purnima snan. During a visit to Prayagraj to review arrangements, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said more than 31 lakh devotees took a holy dip in the sacred Triveni Sangam on Paush Purnima, against the expected 10-15 lakh devotees.The Triveni Sangam is alive with the chants of “Har Har Gange” and the sound of conch shells as undeterred devotees flock to the holy waters, their spirits unshaken, their devotion unbridled. The mela administration has pulled out all stops, from sanitation to transportation and security. But the devotees are on a mission. Holy dips and rituals are all that matter.The bathing rituals will continue on Jan 14-15 for Makar Sankranti, Jan 18 for Mauni Amavasya, Jan 23 for Basant Panchami, then Magh Purnima, and Feb 15 for Mahashivratri.With Makar Sankranti and Mauni Amavasya snan just around the corner, security has been beefed up. Mauni Amavasya (Jan 18) is expected to draw massive crowds – it’s the biggest snan of Magh Mela. Pilgrims from India and abroad will converge on the Ganga banks, creating a vibrant mix of faith and culture.SP (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey said they have installed 1,552 cameras — 400 in the mela area alone. They’re keeping tabs on the entire city, focusing on security, crowd control, and crime prevention.He said, “With the help of a network of CCTV sets, a dedicated team of policemen can monitor aspects like crowd flow, surveillance, and fire safety. For crowd management, cops keep an eye on the flow of devotees, where the crowd is concentrated, and how to regulate it. This technique helps us direct the crowd to areas with less congestion.”In addition to crowd management, the cameras also aid in fire surveillance. “Cops on duty monitor for any signs of smoke or flames… Parking areas are also under constant surveillance. Cameras installed in each parking lot indicate whether it is full or empty. When a parking lot reaches its capacity, cops close it and direct vehicles to the next available lot. The nearest parking is filled first to minimise walking distance for the bathers.”Pandey said there are seven main routes connecting Prayagraj to other cities. With this in mind, parking arrangements were strategically made in all directions to ensure smooth traffic flow and accommodate the influx of visitors during the events.Pandey highlighted the game-changing role of AI cameras in decision-making. “They boost our crowd control capabilities, especially at this massive scale. We’re not relying solely on them, but they definitely help us up our game,” he added.He said cameras are strategically placed at critical spots in the mela area — ghats, main roads, pontoon bridges. “They give us real-time crowd updates, helping us gauge density at hotspots like Sangam. We can track crowd flow and focus on super crowded areas, like ghats, while keeping an eye on less crowded zones too,” he added.