Sun Feb 16 16:07:43 UTC 2025: ## Millions Bathe at Kumbh Mela Without Disease Outbreak, Thanks to Nuclear-Powered Sewage Treatment

**Prayagraj, India** – A massive gathering of over 500 million devotees at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj has concluded without a reported disease outbreak, a feat attributed to advanced sewage treatment technology developed by India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Science Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who visited the site, hailed the achievement as “Herculean,” noting the absence of hygiene disruptions or epidemic risk despite the unprecedented scale of the pilgrimage.

The success is largely credited to innovative sewage treatment plants utilizing Hybrid granular Sequencing Batch Reactors (hgSBR) technology. Developed by researchers at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), these plants employ bacteria-laden granules to treat wastewater, significantly reducing costs and land requirements compared to traditional methods. The technology, spearheaded by Dr. Venkat Nancharaiah, cuts treatment tank volume by up to 20 percent and reduces overall costs by up to 30 percent.

Eleven permanent and three temporary plants, capable of processing nearly 150,000 liters of sewage daily, were deployed at the Kumbh Mela site. This, coupled with the provision of 150,000 toilets by the Uttar Pradesh government and over 200 water dispensing machines, contributed to the prevention of the previously common cholera and dysentery outbreaks associated with such large gatherings. The minister emphasized the significant leap in sanitation infrastructure, effectively bridging the gap between sewage generation and treatment capacity.

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