NTKMA to Hold High-Level Meeting with GSI on July 23 for Landslide Safety Planning Ahead of Kumbh Mela 2027
Nashik, 16th July 26: The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) will hold a high-level technical meeting with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on July 23 to initiate a scientific assessment of landslide-prone locations across the Kumbh Mela region and key pilgrimage routes. The Regional Director of GSI, Nagpur, will visit the NTKMA office to discuss priority locations for geological investigations, the scope of rapid landslide assessments and long-term mitigation measures aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and ensuring the safety of millions of pilgrims expected to attend Kumbh Mela 2027.
The initiative assumes greater significance in light of scientific projections indicating that 2027 could witness the impact of a Super El Niño, resulting in above-normal temperatures and an increased likelihood of extreme rainfall events. Such conditions are expected to heighten the risk of floods, landslides and other weather-related disasters, making scientific hazard assessment an essential component of Kumbh Mela planning.
Keeping these emerging climate risks in view, NTKMA has adopted a multi-hazard approach to disaster risk management, ensuring that planning for Kumbh Mela 2027 is based on scientific risk assessment and resilience. As part of its Disaster Risk Management framework, the Authority has identified 17 major hazards that require focused planning and mitigation, with landslides being one of the key hazards due to the region’s hilly terrain and extensive pilgrim movement through vulnerable stretches.
As part of this strategy, NTKMA has sought the technical expertise of the Geological Survey of India to undertake rapid site-specific landslide assessments at critical locations associated with the Kumbh Mela. The Authority has also requested GSI to carry out detailed scientific investigations at identified sites to facilitate long-term risk mitigation planning and strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure.
The locations proposed for assessment include the Samruddhi Mahamarg Tunnel, Kasara Ghat, Harsul Road (Dindori Road–Trimbakeshwar mobility corridor), Kolambika Devi Trust land, Neel Parvat, Ghoti–Trimbakeshwar section, Trimbakeshwar–Jawahar section and the Saputara section. These locations have been identified considering their strategic importance for pilgrim movement, hilly terrain and their susceptibility to rain-induced landslides. The assessment will help identify vulnerable stretches and recommend scientific interventions to minimise risks before the commencement of Kumbh Mela.
The meeting on July 23 will serve as the first detailed technical consultation between NTKMA and GSI. Discussions will focus on prioritising locations for field investigations, finalising the methodology for rapid assessments, planning site visits by geological experts, and preparing a roadmap for implementing both immediate and long-term mitigation measures. The recommendations emerging from the study will support planning for safer mobility corridors, protection of critical infrastructure and enhanced emergency preparedness during Kumbh Mela 2027.
NTKMA Commissioner Shekhar Singh said, “The safety of pilgrims is central to every aspect of our planning for Kumbh Mela 2027. With climate-related risks becoming increasingly unpredictable, scientific risk assessment has become indispensable for disaster preparedness. Our collaboration with the Geological Survey of India will enable us to identify vulnerable locations well in advance and implement appropriate mitigation measures based on scientific evidence. By integrating expert inputs into our planning process, we aim to build a resilient Kumbh Mela that sets new benchmarks in disaster risk management and public safety.”
