Ahmedabad is set to witness a major technological leap in public safety this year, as Gujarat Police prepares to deploy an advanced Artificial Intelligence-based surveillance system integrated with drones during the annual Rath Yatra on June 27. With nearly 14 to 15 lakh devotees expected to attend the grand religious procession, officials are taking no chances in preventing overcrowding and potential stampede-like situations.
The decision comes in the wake of recent tragedies at mass gatherings, such as the deadly stampede in Bengaluru on June 4 that left 11 dead and 56 injured. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch, aiming to avoid similar disasters, will use a cutting-edge AI visual analytics software to monitor real-time crowd behaviour across the 16-kilometre yatra route.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Bharat Patel announced the initiative on Tuesday, explaining that the software will process live video feeds from CCTV cameras and drones placed strategically along the procession path. “Given the stampedes that occurred in some states, we have decided to use an AI-powered software to monitor and manage crowds during the Rath Yatra by real-time processing of visual data,” said Patel.
The AI system is programmed to perform dynamic crowd analysis — including headcount estimation, crowd density mapping, and predicting influx patterns — to alert police control rooms of any potential danger zones well in advance. “The software will alert officers if a particular area is nearing or exceeding its safe capacity. This gives our personnel on the ground the time to act immediately — by barricading congested zones, redirecting people, or shifting crowds to nearby vacant spaces,” explained Patel.
One of the key features of the system is its ability to pinpoint available space near densely crowded areas, allowing for swift movement of people to safer zones and reducing the risk of bottlenecks. This predictive intelligence will also help authorities deploy manpower and manage traffic more efficiently across the city.
The Rath Yatra, an annual religious event of enormous scale and spiritual significance, will pass through several densely populated and communally sensitive areas of the Old City. Traditionally, the procession features 18 richly adorned elephants, 100 decorated trucks, and 30 aakhadas (local gymnasiums), with lakhs of devotees lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the deities.
