Infy looks to dip in Kumbh as CEO promises to develop tech for event

Will help redress challenges around the festival such as crowd control, finding places to house the pilgrims, risk of epidemics, stampedes and deaths

Infosys might become the latest to join groups developing information technology solutions to solve problems at the Kumbh Mela, the mass pilgrimage where millions gather at a time to take a holy dip in the river. Speaking to journalists after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday, Infosys’ Managing Director and Chief Executive Vishal Sikka said they'd develop software solutions for managing the next Kumbh, scheduled at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh in 2016.

Kumbh Mela is considered to be among the world's largest religious gathering and is held every third year at one of the four venues -- Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayag), Nasik and Ujjain, by rotation. Over 20 million people are expected to visit the Kumbh Mela at Ujjain.

The festival tends to be a nightmare for city authorities and for the pilgrims due the number of participants. As per estimates around three per cent children are lost during each Kumbh Mela and there are other challenges around the festival such as crowd control, finding places to house the pilgrims, risk of epidemics, stampedes and deaths.

Experts believe that several of the challenges faced at the event can be solved with the use of technology. Software solutions such as drones, security softwares, close circuit cameras and tracking devices are a few technologies that can help in managing the event better, experts said.

At a time when the Indian government has laid out technology-driven plans like 'Digital India' and smart city program, use of technology at the Kumbh Mela has got several groups excited.

Among others, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media Labs has launched an initiative called Kumbhathon, which is engaging with startups to develop technologies that could emerge with the 30 million people expected to attend the Kumbh Mela at Nashik this year.

MIT Lab's project is backed by Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus, Ratan Tata.