The tragic stampede that occurred on the sacred night from Tuesday to Wednesday at Prayagraj's Kumbh Mela left 30 dead and 60 injured. The pressing question remains: have the officials learned from this incident? Will the upcoming royal bath on Basant Panchami see no lapses for millions of devotees? What has changed in Prayagraj following these 30 deaths? As of today, the DGP and the Chief Secretary have inspected the tragic location, and by Friday, a judicial commission convened by the Chief Minister will arrive to uncover the truth behind the chaos.
Moreover, could the loss of 30 lives have been prevented if the VIP privileges were timely curtailed? Would Kumbh Mela have avoided the dark stain of death if preventive measures were adopted sooner? The bereaved families of devoted bathers might still have their loved ones if changes for the Basant Panchami ritual were made earlier.
Eighteen days into Kumbh Mela, over 290 million have taken their sacred dip. Immediately following the Mauni Amavasya calamity, nearly 19 million bathed by 4 pm Thursday. With millions preparing for Basant Panchami, officials only awakened when 30 lives were lost in the night's chaos.
The responsibility-dodging negligence must not overshadow the upcoming royal bath at Kumbh Mela. Consequently, under the Chief Minister's directive, Chief Secretary Manoj Singh and DGP Prashant Kumar promptly arrived from Lucknow to the site by the Sangam shores, where cries of distress pierced the night. Both ascended the police watchtower overseeing the chaos site, implementing five significant changes.
Five Transformations at Kumbh Mela
1. Complete Vehicle Ban in Fairgrounds – All vehicle entries prohibited. 2. Cancellation of VVIP Passes – No vehicle entry permitted through special passes. 3. One-Way Traffic Routes – For ease of movement, a one-way system is now in force. 4. Vehicle Entry Restrictions – Vehicles from districts adjoining Prayagraj are halted at district borders. 5. Total Ban on Four-Wheeler Entry Until February 4 – Complete cessation of four-wheeler entry in the city.
Source: aajtak
Goodbye to VIP Culture
The most crucial reform for the next royal bath is eliminating VIP culture at Kumbh. No more elitism, no more sirens escorting leaders, dignitaries, or any official, retired or in uniform. There will be no more VIP mastery over the common public.
Officers Explain VIP Protocol
Mela officials, Vijay Kiran Anand and DIG Vaibhav Krishna, presumably anticipated the backlash post-stampede at the hands of VIP leniency. Therefore, during the press conference following the incident, the officials first justified the VIP protocols. Before Basant Panchami’s holy dip, a one-way movement system is established, eliminating bidirectional traffic.
Source: aajtak
Will the Guilty Be Punished?
The significant inquiry remains whether accountability will find the culprits. Historically, those responsible for the 1954 Kumbh or the 2013 stampede at Prayagraj railway station faced no repercussions. The newly formed judicial commission from Lucknow is tasked with determining culpability, arriving in Prayagraj this Friday. Within a month, it will disclose how and why the catastrophe occurred. This commission will certainly cross-examine responsible officers, like DIG Vaibhav Krishna, amidst the royal bath preparations.
