The occasion marked the beginning of the month-long Magh Mela — amid unprecedented security arrangements in the wake of “heightened threat perception”.

The bathing began at 12.06 pm and ended around 7 pm.

Notwithstanding the official claim of over 30 lakh devotees taking the holy dip, the low turn out bothered the Mela administration. According to a rough estimate, around 20 lakh pilgrims have reached Sangam on Wednesday.

While the Mela administration failed to attract national and international tourists, the perception of a terror attack has kept local pilgrims at bay too.

“Hotels are empty this time. Last year, we were under heavy pressure to accommodate foreign tourists,” said Joginder Singh, president of the hotel association. “Compared to last year, the number of people participating in the first bathing is less,” Mela officer Jitendra Kumar told The Indian Express.

While pilgrims were frisked at every entry point, the River Police, Bomb Disposal Squad, officers of the Anti-Terrorist Squad, Special Task Force, Rapid Action Force, and the Central Reserve Police Force remained on high alert.

Inspector General Surya Kumar Shukla, District Magistrate Rajiv Agrawal and Senior Superintendent of Police, Muttha, Ashok Jain were present at the Mela premises during the bathing. “A Quick Reaction Team of Army personnel has been deployed to counter any terror attack,” said SSP Jain.