Maha Kumbh stampede impact: No VVIP passes, no-vehicle zone enforced

FOLLOWING the stampede at the Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya Wednesday (29), Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath issued a slew of guidelines on crowd management, traffic flow, prevention of build-up of devotees and coordination among departments.

The chief minister has ordered a judicial inquiry to find the reasons that led to the stampede in which 30 people died and 60 were injured.

He said a separate police inquiry would also be conducted into the whole issue.

Adityanath asked the chief secretary and the director general of police to conduct a thorough review of the Maha Kumbh Mela arrangements on Thursday.

"Every aspect related to security and public convenience must be carefully examined to ensure seamless arrangements for Basant Panchami (February 3)," he said.

In the fair venue, holding areas have been established at border points to manage crowd pressure in the fair area. Devotees should be allowed to proceed based on the prevailing situation.

Arrangements for food and drinking water must be ensured at all holding areas so that no devotee faces any inconvenience, he said.

Vehicles from districts bordering Prayagraj are being stopped at the district borders, with a blanket ban on the entry of four-wheelers into the city until February 4.

Only essential services such as police administration vehicles, ambulances and suction machines would be allowed entry as they are crucial for the smooth management of the Maha Kumbh.

No special passes will be issued and vehicle entry into the are will be strictly prohibited, with no exceptions.

Officials from districts bordering Prayagraj have been instructed to maintain continuous coordination with the Prayagraj administration to ensure seamless management and public safety.

Patrolling should be increased and traffic should flow smoothly on all major routes including Ayodhya-Prayagraj, Kanpur-Prayagraj, Fatehpur-Prayagraj, Lucknow-Pratapgarh-Prayagraj, and Varanasi-Prayagraj, according to the statement.

"All return routes from Prayagraj should remain open and unobstructed at all times," Adityanath said.

"Traffic must remain smooth within the Maha Kumbh Mela area. Unnecessary halts should be avoided, and crowd build-up must be prevented at all locations. There should be no traffic congestion on the roads.

"If street vendors are occupying pathways, they should be relocated to designated open areas to ensure the continuous flow of movement. No road should face a jam at any point," he added.

Lakhs of devotees visiting Maha Kumbh are also traveling to Varanasi and Ayodhya for darshan and worship, while many are heading to Chitrakoot and Mirzapur, according to the statement.

With a significant increase in footfall expected over the next two days, heightened vigilance is essential in these key cities. Continuous monitoring and precautionary measures must be ensured.

Holding areas should be created to regulate the crowd flow, allowing movement as per the situation, it added.

Barricading should be used effectively, traffic management should be improved, and adequate parking arrangements must be in place, it stated.

Pilgrim flow

Meanwhile, the devotees braved the pre-dawn chill and dense fog to take a dip in the Sangam and at other ghats here on Thursday (30).

Pilgrims, including women and children, were seen walking to and fro the various ghats amid reduced visibility. Many had thin blankets covering their bodies while some stopped by bonfires along the routes to keep themselves warm.

Pramod Panwar, who hails from Gurugram in Haryana, said he reached here on Wednesday with his family and was returning now.

"We took a dip early today. We came here yesterday but it was very crowded. Today the situation is better," he told PTI Videos.

Delhi resident Asha Patel was also among those who took a dip.

"We keep hearing something good or bad about what's happening but we don't focus on that. I had been wanting to come to the Maha Kumbh for a long time and finally it happened," she said. (PTI)