Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after a mammoth meeting with the state’s top administrative and police officials, has issued a list of extensive instructions to better manage, not just the crowds at Prayagraj but also those gathering at other religious places.
While road traffic from other cities to Prayagraj was stopped following the stampede on Wednesday, Adityanath has now said that it was the duty of the government to get every devotee home safely and thus, be it the Kumbh area or roads out of the city, traffic movement should not stop. There is also to be increased patrolling on every route coming towards Prayagraj.
More mela special trains and additional buses will also be pressed into service so that there are no excessive crowds at any station. When people need to be halted in holding areas, adequate food and water should be provided.
The administration at Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Chitrakoot has also been asked to be extra vigilant and make extensive arrangements for crowd safety and convenience.
महाकुम्भ-2025, प्रयागराज में हुई घटना अत्यंत दु:खद है, मर्माहत करने वाली है।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 29, 2025
मृतकों को विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि व मेरी संवेदनाएं शोक संतप्त परिजनों के साथ हैं... pic.twitter.com/IuJ8Sz2GTh
In Prayagraj, two senior officers who have served as Divisional Commissioner and vice chairperson of the development authority have been deployed to further help with arrangements. Five special secretaries will also oversee the mela now.
On Wednesday night the CM held a video conference with senior police officers and district administration officials posted in districts/zones/ranges like Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Varanasi, Ayodhya Mirzapur, Basti, Jaunpur, Chitrakoot, Banda Ambedkarnagar, Pratapgarh, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bhadohi, Rae Bareli, Gorakhpur etc. in the presence of senior officials of the government level.
The officials of all the districts sharing the border with Prayagraj were instructed to keep in constant contact and coordinate with the Prayagraj administration. All bordering districts will have to ensure compliance with instructions received from Prayagraj. Return routes should remain operational without any traffic jams.
In the mela area, there should not be any unnecessary stopping of people so that crowd pressure does not build up. Street vendors should be shifted off roads so that traffic is not blocked.
For the snan on Basant Panchami on February 3, the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police will review the mela area extensively on Thursday.
