Official sources said braving fog and chilling conditions, thousands began taking the dip since last midnight with the number reaching 2.5 lakh till the morning hours.
West Bengal Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee visited the place yesterday and affirmed his government's commitment to make the annual fair a national one by raising public utility services several notches.
The government was also constructing permanent guest houses for visitors and also a permanent jetty at a cost of Rs 5 crore, Mukherjee said.
