GUWAHATI, June 27 - Around 40 lakh pilgrims and visitors attended this year�s Ambubachi Mela, including many from abroad.
�This year�s event attracted a crowd of around 40 lakh visitors, primarily from places like West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Punjab. Local pilgrims from Assam and its neighbouring states and also foreign tourists were seen visiting Kamakhya Dham during Ambubachi Mela,� said Dr M Angamuthu, Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Metro.
The administration thanked all the stakeholders for the successful Mela which passed off without any untoward incident.
The DC said that seven designated camps were set up for the pilgrims � at the Kamakhya railway station, Tarun Sangha, Naharbari, Bangshi Bagan, Pandu, Sonaram field and Swami Abhayananda Ashram.
�The camps were well equipped with facilities like boarding, lodging, dedicated health services and sanitation and were manned round the clock by staff from various line departments. The district administration, in collaboration with ASTC, ensured regular transportation services in the form of buses and ferry cars for smooth movement of visitors. Special care was taken to cater to the needs of elderly pilgrims, differently-abled visitors, women and children. Free medical services were availed by a large number of devotees,� he said.
Dr Angamuthu added that this year special emphasis was given towards generating awareness about the endemic flora and fauna of Nilachal Hills and the adjoining areas.
�This mammoth task of flawlessly managing such an event was realised due to the services rendered by the departments of Tourism and Forest, NF Railway, Guwahati Municipal Corporation, and line departments like the Joint Director of Health Services, Public Health Engineering, PWD, APDCL, Fire and Emergency Services, SDRF, Bharat Scouts and Guides, NCC, Civil Defence and social service organisations like the Bordeuri Samaj,� said the DC, adding that the city police also played a major role during the Mela.
