PRAYAGRAJ, Jan. 2 -- With the first bathing festival of the Magh Mela scheduled to begin on Saturday, frustration among seers is growing over the lack of basic facilities. On Thursday, their patience snapped when administrative officials allegedly stopped responding to calls, triggering a strong protest.

Angered by what they termed administrative apathy, sadhus and seers from several akhadas reached the Sector Six Office on Old GT Road on Thursday afternoon. They locked the office doors, blocked the road, and refused to meet junior officials. When police officers arrived to pacify them, the seers sent them back, insisting that only the divisional commissioner, district magistrate, or Mela officer would be acceptable for talks. The protes...