UP Govt Makes Key Changes After Maha Kumbh Stampede

A day after a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh triggered widespread criticism, the state government introduced strict measures to prevent further untoward incidents. The administration has implemented five major changes, including declaring the entire mela area a no-vehicle zone.

The tragedy occurred on 29 January as crores of devotees attempted to reach the waters for a sacred dip on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days of the Kumbh Mela.

According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Maha Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, the stampede was triggered by devotees pushing against barricades as they tried to reach the holy waters.

The five key changes are:
No-vehicle zone Entry of all types of vehicles is strictly prohibited in the Maha Kumbh Mela grounds.
VVIP passes cancelled No special passes will allow vehicle entry, eliminating any exceptions.
One-way routes A one-way traffic system has been enforced to streamline the movement of devotees.
Vehicle entry restricted Vehicles arriving from neighbouring districts of Prayagraj are being stopped at district borders to reduce congestion.
Strict restrictions until 4 February Entry of four-wheelers into the city is completely banned until this date to maintain order.

Bureaucrats, Ashish Goyal and Bhanu Goswami, have been directed to reach Prayagraj immediately to further strengthen crowd management efforts. These bureaucrats had played a key role in successfully managing the 2019 Ardh Kumbh along with Vijay Kiran. During that event, Goswami served as the District Magistrate and Vice Chairman of the Kumbh Mela Authority, while Goyal was the Commissioner of Allahabad, overseeing the management. Also, five special secretary-rank officers with previous experience in handling large-scale events have been assigned to assist with Maha Kumbh operations.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued multiple guidelines focusing on crowd control, traffic management, and inter-departmental coordination. The CM ordered a review of the Maha Kumbh arrangements by the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP).

The Additional Director General of Police (ADG) and the District Magistrate of Prayagraj have been directed to ensure a safe and smooth departure of all devotees from the city.

UP CM addressed senior police officers and officials from multiple districts, including Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mirzapur, Basti, Jaunpur, and Rae Bareli.

With many devotees present at railway stations across Prayagraj preparing to return home, Adityanath instructed officials to coordinate closely with rail authorities. The Transport Corporation has been directed to deploy additional buses to accommodate the rush.

Holding areas have been set up at border points to manage crowd pressure within the fair area. Devotees will be allowed to proceed only when the situation permits. These areas will have adequate arrangements for food, drinking water, and uninterrupted electricity supply, the state government has assured.

Increased patrolling and streamlined traffic flow have been mandated on major routes leading to Prayagraj, including those from Ayodhya, Kanpur, Fatehpur, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, and Varanasi.

A three-member judicial commission has been appointed to investigate the causes of the stampede. The panel comprises Justice Harsh Kumar, former Director General VK Gupta, and retired IAS officer VK Singh. The CM has announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh each for the family of those who lost their lives.