Lucknow, Dec 19 : Around 20 million devotees are expected during the more than month-long Magh Mela that begins Dec 31 in Allahabad, but civic amenities to handle such a massive crowd, including hospitals, are not ready yet, officials have admitted.

The work by civic agencies was to be completed by Dec 15. However, the basic infrastructure at the site of the Sangam, the holy confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, remains dismal.    

According to sources in the mela organising committee, it would take at least another week to set up the basic infrastructure for holding the Magh Mela.

"Health authorities are yet to set up the camps and hospitals at the site,'' an official with the Magh Mela committee, told IANS on telephone, preferring anonymity.    

"They have still not set up the proposed 20-bed hospital, 12 primary health centres and another eight-bed hospital for the pilgrims,'' he added.    

The Public Works Department (PWD), Jal Nigam, Jal Sansthan and other civic agencies are also lagging behind.    

"If you go as per the pace of arrangements at the site, it will take another seven-eight days for the civic agencies to improve the poor condition of roads, tubewells, provide electricity to the entire mela area of approximately 5,607 acres and complete the work for the construction of four pontoon bridges on the Ganga river,'' the official pointed out.    (IANS)

Pushkar Srivastava, officer of the meal organising committee, told IANS on telephone,

''Instructions to expedite the work and complete it on a war footing have already been issued. Now, the work at any cost has to be completed by Dec 25."    

Magh Mela's main ritual involves taking a holy dip at Sangam on auspicious dates. The important bathing dates for the Mela are spread over a period of 45 days. The first bathing day is on the occasion of Paush Purnima Dec 31.

It is believed that taking a holy dip in Sangam during the Hindu month of Magh improves life and makes it disease free.

The Magh Mela will end Feb 12 on Mahashivratri.