Gaya: The footfall of devotees during the fortnight-long Pitripaksh Mela crossed 32.94 lakh by Sunday, the ninth day of the event in Gaya, making it the highest turnout in recent years and surpassing last year’s figure of around 30 lakh.The district administration released the turnout data based on readings from electronic foot-counting machines installed at Vishnupad Temple and other major pind vedis across the city.On Monday, the 10th day of the mela, district magistrate Shashank Shubhankar inspected Vishnupad Temple premises, including the sanctum sanctorum, exit gates, ghats, cremation ground area, Gayakup Vedi and the control room at Sanwas Sadan Samiti.During the inspection, an elderly woman devotee from Madhya Pradesh felt unwell near the temple exit amid heavy crowding. DM directed medical personnel to examine her and provide glucose and medicines if required.DM asked officials to closely monitor crowd movement inside the sanctum and at exit points through live CCTV feeds. He stressed the need to assist elderly, women and vulnerable devotees and ensure their safe movement after darshan.At the control room, he reviewed CCTV footage and crowd management arrangements across the mela area and directed officials to respond promptly to complaints and information received there.Inspecting the VIP parking area near the cremation ground, Shubhankar instructed officials to prevent unnecessary vehicle parking to ensure smooth pedestrian movement.He said the large influx of pilgrims from across India and abroad required coordinated efforts by all departments to provide a safe, clean and orderly environment.Meanwhile, Gaya Municipal Corporation showered flower petals on devotees using a drone at Vishnupad Temple, Falgu river and Dev Ghat on Monday as a gesture of welcome.A large number of pilgrims performed pinddaan on the 10th day of Gaya Shraddha at Gayakup and Gayasir pind vedis, besides Falgu river, Vishnupad Temple and Akshayvat.Senior Gayapal panda Gajadhar Lal Katariyar said pinddaan at Gaya is believed to help ancestors attain salvation. “The ritual holds special significance here, and pilgrims are advised to perform pind daan at these vedis as prescribed on Ashwin Krishna Dashami,” he said.
