India, Feb. 17 -- Over a crore devotees, on average, have been bathing every day in the Triveni Sangam for the past 20 days from January 26 onwards, a trend never before witnessed in the history of the Kumbh Mela, according to claims made by the government.

The total count of bathers of over 52.96 crore so far has already surpassed the official estimation of 40 to 45 crore devotees who were expected to arrive at Mahakumbh by 10 per cent. Analysis of footfalls every day since the beginning of Mela shows that despite the stampede on Mauni Amavasya, devotees still kept arriving in large numbers daily. By 6 pm on Sunday, 1.36 crore devotees had bathed in the Triveni waters and the rate of influx continued without any drop.

On Sunday by 2 pm...