Maha Kumbh: UP govt scraps VVIP passes, declares vehicle-free zone
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Prayagraj: The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed strict measures in Prayagraj following a tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela which claimed at least 30 lives and left 60 others injured on Wednesday. The incident occurred as crores of devotees gathered in the Mela area for a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days of the festival.
Officials have attributed the stampede to devotees pushing against barricades while attempting to reach the Sangam nose area. In response, the state government has swiftly implemented five key changes to strengthen crowd management and prevent further incidents.
The administration has declared the Maha Kumbh fair area a strict no-vehicle zone, completely prohibiting the entry of all types of vehicles. VVIP passes have been revoked, ensuring no exceptions to the vehicle entry ban. Additionally, a one-way traffic system has been put in place to regulate the movement of devotees, while vehicle entry from neighboring districts into Prayagraj has been restricted at district borders to prevent congestion. To maintain order, all four-wheeler entry into the city has been banned until February 4.
In a decisive move to reinforce crowd control efforts, the government has deployed IAS officers Ashish Goyal and Bhanu Goswami to Prayagraj. Both officials played key roles in successfully managing the 2019 Ardh Kumbh. At the time, Bhanu Goswami served as the District Magistrate and Vice Chairman of the Kumbh Mela Authority, while Ashish Goyal was the Commissioner of Allahabad, overseeing event operations. To further strengthen the administration, five special secretary-rank officers with experience in handling large-scale events have been assigned to assist with Maha Kumbh management.
Following the tragedy, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a series of directives focusing on crowd control, traffic management, and inter-departmental coordination. He has instructed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct a thorough review of Maha Kumbh arrangements. The Additional Director General (ADG) and the District Magistrate of Prayagraj have been tasked with ensuring the safe and smooth departure of all devotees from the city.
In a late-night video conference, the Chief Minister addressed senior police officers and officials from multiple districts, instructing them to closely coordinate with railway authorities to manage the movement of pilgrims effectively. The Transport Corporation has been directed to deploy additional buses to accommodate the heavy rush and prevent overcrowding. He emphasized that crowd pressure should be dispersed efficiently to avoid bottlenecks and ensure smooth movement throughout the city.
Authorities have also been instructed to relocate street vendors occupying roads to open spaces to prevent congestion. At the same time, CM Yogi stressed that devotees should not face unnecessary restrictions while moving through the fairgrounds.
In addition to immediate response measures, the state government has constituted a three-member judicial commission to investigate the causes of the stampede. The panel comprises Justice Harsh Kumar, former Director General V.K. Gupta, and retired IAS officer V.K. Singh. The Chief Minister also announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
With these measures in place, authorities are working to ensure the safety of devotees while maintaining order at the Maha Kumbh Mela.
With IANS inputs