Bharat Sevashram Sangha deploys 1,500 volunteers to manage the crowd at the Gangasagar Mela
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata: Every year, millions of devotees from West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and various other parts of the country come to participate in the Gangasagar Mela. Managing this massive crowd, ensuring the safety of the pilgrims, and providing necessary assistance becomes a major challenge for the administration. To prevent accidents and provide necessary support, Bharat Sevashram Sangha has started large-scale preparations for this year's Gangasagar Mela.
Swami Vishwatmananda Maharaj, the General Secretary of the Sangha, announced at a press conference at the Sangha's headquarters in Ballygunge, Kolkata, on Wednesday that this year there will be more than 1,500 trained volunteers. These volunteers have already started working on the Sagar beach. Their main responsibilities include guiding pilgrims along the correct path and providing quick assistance to anyone in distress due to the crowd.
He further stated that people will be encouraged to use life jackets while entering the sea. A special team will be ready to rescue and safely return anyone who is accidentally swept away by the current. In addition, this year more than 5,000 night shelters and over 200 affordable first-aid centers are being opened for the pilgrims.
Arrangements are also being made to quickly admit sick pilgrims to hospitals. Swami Vishwatmananda Maharaj said that multiple ambulance services will be on standby at all times. The Sangha also plans to distribute free food (Bhog Prasad) to more than a lakh people every day.
Bharat Sevashram Sangha stated that their goal is to make the Gangasagar pilgrimage safer and more peaceful for the devotees through proper discipline and cooperation.