PRAYAGRAJ, Jan. 23 -- The Magh Mela administration is on high alert for the fourth major bathing festival of the ongoing 44-day annual religious fair on the occasion of Basant Panchami, scheduled to take place at the Triveni Sangam on Friday. Nearly 2 crore devotees are expected to take the sacred dip. For this festival, a 3.5-km stretch of bathing area across 24 ghats has been prepared.

A day before the festival, senior administrative and police officials conducted an extensive review of arrangements. Divisional commissioner Soumya Agarwal and police commissioner Jogendra Kumar inspected Sangam, Ramghat, Kalighat, Airavat Ghat and other key locations, directing teams to remain vigilant throughout the event.

Officials instructed workers...