Maha Kumbh: India Using AI For Crowd Management, Safety

PRAYAGRAJ, (Reuters) – The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, is being managed with cutting-edge technology to improve safety and crowd control. With over 400 million people expected to attend, the festival in Prayagraj has become a testing ground for innovative solutions aimed at minimizing the risks associated with such a massive congregation.

One of the most significant upgrades this year is the use of facial recognition technology. When Sarita Singh was separated from her son and mother-in-law, authorities deployed the technology to quickly locate them. Police ran her son’s photograph through their system, and within hours, surveillance cameras spotted him near a tea shop with his grandmother. This marked a stark contrast to the chaotic scenes depicted in older Bollywood films, where families often remained separated for decades during the festival.

The 2025 festival, dubbed the ‘Digital Maha Kumbh’ by the Indian government, spans 4,000 hectares and is equipped with over 2,700 CCTV cameras. These cameras, combined with AI-based software, are essential for real-time crowd management. Police officers are using the software to monitor crowd density and prevent incidents like stampedes, which have plagued previous gatherings, including the 2013 Kumbh Mela.

Amit Kumar, a senior police officer, explained that AI plays a critical role in tracking crowd movements and providing early warnings about surges in specific areas. “The software tells us when the crowd is building up, allowing us to take preventive measures,” he said.

In addition to AI, the system also alerts authorities about fires, security breaches, or unauthorized access across barricades. These alerts are communicated to on-ground personnel to quickly address the situation. Over 500 control center staff are constantly monitoring the situation using these technologies.

Technology is also being deployed to track and assist lost visitors. While facial recognition can only be effective if a person is captured by one of the festival’s cameras, the system has helped authorities locate missing individuals with greater speed and accuracy.

Underwater drones are monitoring the river’s depths to ensure safety during religious dips, sending real-time alerts in case of accidents or drownings. For visitors from across India who may not speak the local language, multilingual chatbots on the Kumbh app offer guidance and help with navigation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Prayagraj last month, highlighted the technological advancements being implemented. “The era in which Maha Kumbh 2025 is being organised is far ahead in terms of technology,” he said. “I hope more and more people are united through this union of data and technology.”

With these measures, the Indian government aims to create a safer and more efficient experience for millions of devotees, showcasing how technology can support the management of large-scale religious events.

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