MEERUT, July 19 -- This year, the Kanwar Yatra is under unprecedented surveillance, with security measures matching those of Mahakumbh. The Uttar Pradesh Police, led by additional director general of police (ADG) zone Bhanu Bhaskar, has set up a high-tech control room in Meerut, connected to over 11,000 CCTV cameras, ensuring 24/7 monitoring across several districts.

For the first time in Kanwar Yatra, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being employed for smart crowd management in selected districts. It enables real-time monitoring of crowd density, early identification of potential risks, and dynamic control of crowd flow to prevent bottlenecks or stampedes. Police officials noted that AI was successfully used during the Maha Kumbh and is ...