In response to a devastating stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where at least 30 lives were lost and more than 60 were injured, the Uttar Pradesh government has directed a series of strict measures. The major changes have been made to ensure safety of the devotees and for better management of the crowd. The stampede happened on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most sacred days of the Kumbh, as millions of pilgrims rushed towards the Sangam. The tragedy led to some immediate changes in the event’s management to prevent further mishaps.
The government has announced five key major changes at enhancing the safety and controlling of crowds, as per IANS.
1. All VVIP Passes cancelled: All the special passes that were issued earlier that allowed entry to the meal area have been suspended. This ensures that no exceptions are made and will reduce the possibility of overcrowding caused by special access.
2. Implementation of one-way traffic: As per this rule. A new one way traffic system has been enacted so that flow of vehicular movement is maintained as well to remove blockages.
3. The four-wheeler vehicles have been prohibited to enter the city till February 4 for further controlling the traffic and ensuring smooth operations.
4. Complete restriction on vehicle: All types of vehicles are now barred from entering the Kumbh Mela grounds. The measures have been made so that the movement of the devotees stays undisturbed.
5. Curtailment on the vehicles entrance: Vehicles coming from nearby districts are also stopped at the borders to ease out the congestion and control the entry of people into Prayagraj.
To handle crowd management, the state government has deployed experienced officials to oversee the arrangements, as reported by PTI. IAS officers Bhanu Goswami and Ashish Goyal have been assigned to the city as both of them have prior experience of handling large-scale events. They will be joining the team along with five additional secretary-level officers to boost coordination and management till February 12.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath has also issued guidelines for the smooth departure of the devotees along with public safety. Measures like additional buses to accommodate the surge in visitors and surveillance has been increased at major routes and railway destinations.
The state also announced the formation of a judicial commission to probe the stampede’s reasons to be headed by Justice Harsh Kumar.