The Uttar Pradesh Government accelerated efforts to manage crowd and ensure safety for the millions flocking to the religious congregation, a day after a stampede at the Maha Kumbh resulted in 30 casualties. The ritual of taking a dip continues at Sangam and other ghats. By 2 PM Thursday, over 152 million devotees had taken the holy dip. Over 275.8 million have participated to date.
Due to the vast number of pilgrims, all bridges have been reopened in Prayagraj. Pontoon bridges are accessible for devotees again. DIG Vaibhav Krishna confirmed that police are actively working on security measures for the upcoming Basant Panchami (3 February), ensuring robust safety in the fairgrounds.
Krishna stated, "Given the expected large influx, we are strengthening the deployment of police personnel and security forces. Thursday saw relatively less crowd pressure, and all bridges were reopened, smoothing out the movement in the fairground area. However, new restrictions will be imposed at key locations for better crowd management ahead of Basant Panchami."
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Source: aajtak
Devotees Reaching Sangam and Other Ghats
DIG Krishna also clarified that there was no VIP movement in the fair area during Mauni Amavasya as per official guidelines, and the same protocol will apply for Basant Panchami. The morning fog gradually cleared, and bright sunshine emerged in the Kumbh Mela area, although the flow of devotees towards Sangam and other ghats continued all day.
Several pilgrims moved towards Sangam from the Kachchap Dwar route on the Prayagraj city side, while many others returning to the city after Mauni Amavasya and subsequent rituals were observed.
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One-Way Traffic on Pontoon Bridges
Following Wednesday's tragic stampede incident, one-way traffic was implemented on the 30 pontoon bridges within the fairground. This permits movement in only one direction per bridge, with a parallel bridge set up for return traffic. The Triveni Sangam, considered the most sacred bathing site, is positioned on one side of the fairground, while many other ghats along the Ganga and near akharas are situated on the opposite side, connected through these pontoon bridges.
Source: aajtak
Area Declared No-Vehicle Zone
Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Anshuman Mishra informed PTI that this area would remain a no-vehicle zone until the crowd is fully dispersed. He stated, "Vehicle passes will not be valid until all devotees have safely departed. No external vehicles will be granted entrance into the city until the crowd has exited the fair area."
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Mishra added that senior officials might permit vehicle entry based on the situation, but police administration vehicles, ambulances, and essential services like suction machines necessary for the smooth management of the Maha Kumbh will be granted access.
Two Former Senior Officials to Bolster Management
To further strengthen operations, the UP Government will deploy two former senior officials on fair duty - Ashish Goel, former Divisional Commissioner of Prayagraj for the 2019 Kumbh, and Bhanu Goswami, former Vice Chairman of the Agra Development Authority. Additionally, five special secretary-level officers will oversee operations, assisting in streamlining arrangements. They will remain in Prayagraj until February 12, according to Adityanath.
