Gangasagar Mela Bustles with 8.5 Million Pilgrims, Set to Exceed 10 Million

• Over 8.5 million pilgrims have arrived at Gangasagar for the Makar Sankranti holy dip, with numbers expected to surpass 10 million.
• The holy dip will continue until 1:19 PM on Thursday, drawing massive crowds to the Gangasagar Mela.
• State Minister Arup Biswas reiterated the demand for Gangasagar Mela to be declared a national fair.
• Authorities have resolved 260 out of 272 reported pickpocketing incidents and reunited 4860 out of 4883 missing persons with their families.
• Modern technology, including GPS tracking for vehicles, and accident insurance of five lakh rupees, are enhancing fair management and safety.

Why It Matters: Gangasagar Mela sees record pilgrim turnout, with calls for national fair status and enhanced safety measures.