Maha Kumbh Declared Vehicle-Free Zone, VVIP Passes Cancelled After The Stampede

A day after the stampede incident that claimed 30 people and left 60 injured on Wednesday, authorities have imposed strict measures at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj to enhance safety and crowd management.

As a result, all VVIP passes have been cancelled until February 4, and the entire fair area has been declared a vehicle-free zone.

Key Measures Announced by CM Yogi Adityanath

No-Vehicle Zone Implementation
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a high-level meeting, directed officials to enforce a no-vehicle policy across the fairgrounds from Thursday to February 4.

• Ban on convoys: VVIP bath convoys and escort vehicles will not be allowed.

• Limited vehicle access: Only two-wheelers, ambulances, municipal, and fire department vehicles will be permitted.

• Restricted entry: Four-wheelers from nearby districts will be banned from entering Prayagraj.

Changes in Bathing Routes & Crowd Management

To prevent another tragedy, authorities have modified the bath routes:

One-way movement: Devotees going for a bath will not cross paths with those returning.

Holding areas at borders: To reduce crowding in the mela grounds, temporary holding areas have been set up where food, water, and uninterrupted electricity will be provided.

With Basant Panchami (February 3) being another major bathing day, the chief secretary and DGP have been tasked with reviewing security and logistics.

Monitoring Public Transport & Traffic Flow

As thousands of devotees return home, CM Adityanath has called for:

• Continuous train operations in coordination with railway authorities.

• Deployment of additional transport buses to accommodate the rush.

• Smooth traffic management on key highways leading to Prayagraj, ensuring no unnecessary stoppages or congestion.

Heightened Security Measures

• Former Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner Ashish Goyal, who managed the 2019 Kumbh, has been deployed to oversee arrangements.

• Five special secretary-level officers will remain in Prayagraj until February 12 for better administration.

• SP-rank police officers have been assigned for enhanced law enforcement.

With lakhs of devotees also visiting Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, and Mirzapur, officials have been instructed to increase vigilance in these cities as well.

These measures aim to prevent another tragedy and ensure the smooth conduct of the Maha Kumbh.

On Wednesday, 5.75 crore took a holy dip at the Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a large number of devotees continued to arrive at the ongoing Mahakumbh on Thursday despite a dense layer of fog enveloping Prayagraj. As per the weather report, the minimum temperature will vary between 10-13 degrees Celsius.