Prayagraj, January 10: Ahead of the Kumbh Mela this month, a portion of the building being built to be used as a heliport during the religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, collapsed on Wednesday night. According to a tweet by ANI, at least two labourers got trapped in the debris. As soon as the incident was reported, authorities rushed to the site and rescued the workers. One of the largest religious gatherings in the world - the Kumbh Mela is set to begin in Prayagraj, formerly Allahabad, from January 15. Kumbh Mela 2019 Tent City: Know Where to Stay and How to Book Tents in Prayagraj During Ardh Kumbh. 

This year, the event will be spread over an area of 45 km from the earlier 20 km radius. As part of the preparations for Kumbh Mela, several construction works have been taken up in Prayagraj. Reports inform that a  new temporary city, which is believed to be the largest in the world, has been set up along Prayagraj, which has 250-km long roads and 22 pontoon bridges. Kumbh Mela 2019: Prayagraj Gets Tents With ‘5-Star Facilities’ for Devotees.

According to UNESCO, the Kumbh Mela is the biggest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on Earth. Touted as the biggest cultural and religious event in the world, nearly 15 crore people are expected to visit the city during the Kumbh Mela this year between January 15 and March 4. In 2013, the city had hosted over 12 crore pilgrims in 2013 Kumbh Mela. Kumbh Mela 2019: Over 1,22,000 Toilets to Be Installed to Promote Swachh Bharat During Kumbh, Says Yogi Adityanath.

According to reports, the Central government will also launch an airboat service from Varanasi to Prayagraj for the Kumbh Mela from January 26. Union Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said this is a technology by the Russian government where the airboat will have an engine of a vehicle and carry 16 people in one go. The airboat can cruise up to 80 kilometers per hour and requires a depth of only 10 centimeters.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2019 10:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).