Jasidih railway station in Jharkhand has been placed under heightened security ahead of the month-long Sravani Mela 2026, with Eastern Railway (ER) deploying AI-enabled surveillance, dedicated crowd management infrastructure, and round-the-clock security personnel to handle an expected footfall of nearly one lakh pilgrims per day. Officials confirmed the arrangements on Saturday, 25 July 2026, as the annual pilgrimage season prepares to get underway for devotees travelling to Baba Baidyanath Dham.

High-Level Inspection and Security Review

A.N. Sinha, Railway Protection Force (RPF) Inspector General (IG) of Eastern Railway, led a comprehensive security inspection at Jasidih station alongside Pawan Kumar, Asansol Senior Divisional Security Commissioner. The inspection covered the passenger holding area, station premises, Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), and the Jasidih RPF Post.

Special focus was placed on a newly developed passenger holding area designed to regulate pilgrim movement before entry into the station, preventing overcrowding and maintaining smooth passenger flow — a critical safeguard given the volume of daily footfall anticipated over the next month.

AI-Enabled Surveillance Deployed

Among the standout additions this year is the deployment of AI-enabled Face Recognition System (FRS) cameras at strategic locations across the station. These cameras are integrated with a database of known offenders and generate real-time alerts when listed individuals are detected, enabling RPF personnel to swiftly identify and intercept suspicious or wanted persons.

The surveillance network has been further strengthened with enhanced deployment of security personnel at vulnerable locations, complementing the technological layer with on-ground presence.

Inter-Agency Coordination and Emergency Preparedness

A high-level coordination meeting was convened with senior officials from multiple railway departments, the Government Railway Police (GRP), local police, and civil administration. The meeting focused on synchronised inter-agency communication, emergency response mechanisms, and efficient crowd management strategies to handle the anticipated surge throughout the Mela period.

During a Suraksha Sammelan addressed to RPF personnel, IG Sinha stressed constant vigilance, professionalism, and passenger-centric service. He directed the deployment of security escorts on Mela Special trains, operation of 24x7 passenger assistance and help desks, and strict action against anti-social elements.

Passenger Safety Measures for Pilgrims and Regular Commuters

Security personnel have been sensitised to maintain cordial conduct with pilgrims while keeping crowd situations under control at all times. Eastern Railway has stated that the measures are aimed at ensuring a safe, secure, and seamless experience for both pilgrims visiting Baba Baidyanath Dham and regular passengers using the station during this period.

With the Sravani Mela drawing lakhs of Shiva devotees annually to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the pressure on Jasidih — the nearest major railhead — is among the most intense of any pilgrimage-linked station in eastern India. How effectively the new AI infrastructure and inter-agency protocols perform under real conditions will be closely watched.