India Uses AI to Prevent Stampedes at Kumbh Mela, the World’s Largest Gathering

January 21st 2025

Source: Tech Xplore

In Summary:

India is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address one of its most persistent challenges: managing massive crowds at religious festivals. This year’s Kumbh Mela, expected to draw up to 400 million pilgrims, has introduced a sophisticated AI-driven system to monitor and mitigate the risks of stampedes, a recurring danger at such gatherings.

The Kumbh Mela is one of Hinduism’s most significant festivals, attracting millions of devotees for ritual bathing at the confluence of sacred rivers. Historically, the event has been marred by tragic stampedes, with hundreds of deaths reported in previous years. To counter these risks, authorities have deployed 300 cameras and drones, feeding real-time footage into an AI algorithm that calculates crowd density and movement patterns. The system is designed to sound alarms when areas become critically overcrowded, giving organizers time to act before situations escalate.

While the integration of AI into crowd management represents a significant step forward, it also raises questions about scalability and cultural differences in crowd dynamics. India’s capacity to manage higher crowd densities than Western nations, due to differing social norms, has shaped the AI’s thresholds. Despite these advancements, some degree of crowd crush remains inevitable, given the overwhelming scale of the festival.

The success of this initiative may inspire broader adoption of AI in crowd management globally. However, as AI becomes more integrated into public safety efforts, there are broader implications to consider, including its adaptability to different cultural contexts and its role in future urban and event planning.

Read the original article at: Tech Xplore

Credit: TechXplore