Prayagraj: The Uttar Pradesh Police has intensified security across the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj after a stampede last week claimed at least 30 lives and left more than 60 people injured. The security measures have, however, forced devotees to walk up to 25 km to reach the Sangam area.
Speaking to ThePrint, Prayagraj Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajesh Dwivedi confirmed the heightened security arrangements and said the police were closely analysing the movement patterns of devotees.
“Yes, we have increased security and personnel at sensitive points,” he said. “We have also done assessments to decide what needs to be done if there is a surge in crowd.”
The authorities are focusing on crowd management, monitoring key entry points and implementing strategic diversions to prevent further stampede incidents.
“We are analysing where people are coming from—whether it’s the station, cities or highways—we are monitoring that and planning diversions accordingly,” said Dwivedi, adding that the police were keeping a careful eye on whether the flow of people was manageable.
Ahead of Sunday’s Basant Panchami, a major bathing day at the mela, Dwivedi said the police brainstormed additional security strategies to ensure the safety of attendees.
He admitted that controlling sudden surges in crowd continued to remain a challenge.
“If people come in intervals and are spread out, it makes our jobs easier. If there is a sudden swell, then it becomes challenging,” the SP said.
The state government has also implemented a no-vehicle zone in the mela area to reduce congestion after the stampede. This involves restrictions on vehicles entering the city limits, and has resulted in cars and buses being stranded on highways for hours on end.
Bumper-to-bumper traffic, stalled for hours on end, outside Prayagraj city limits has caused lakhs of devotees to abandon their transportation and head to the mela on foot. Many are thus being forced to walk up to 25 km to reach the Sangam area.
Pankaj, a devotee from Uttar Pradesh, had a message for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. “I request them to open the roads for people to travel. Some are walking 21 km to 22 km, with lots of luggage, and are finding it very difficult,” he told ThePrint.
In the aftermath of the 29 January stampede, the UP Police had added diversions even within the mela grounds, causing people to walk an extra 3 km to reach the Sangam site. This was not a problem for younger pilgrims, but it was the old, differently-abled and sick devotees who faced trouble.
Sanjay Yadav, from Delhi, complained about the lack of transportation facilities within the mela grounds. “People who have trouble with their feet have to walk 2-3 km. This is the biggest problem,” said Yadav. “Everything else, I am happy with.”
Speaking about the stampede, SP Dwivedi said: “It was a sad event. We are working hard to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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