As the Maha Kumbh Mela nears its conclusion on February 26, Prayagraj is witnessing an overwhelming influx of devotees, leading to severe traffic congestion across the city. The sacred gathering, which began on January 13, 2025, continues to attract over 1 crore people daily, with devotees arriving to take a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam.
On February 22, the total number of visitors surpassed 60 crore, with even larger crowds expected in the final days of the festival, especially with Maha Shivratri approaching. The surge in pilgrims has resulted in long queues of four-wheelers at city entry points, despite police efforts to manage the traffic and direct vehicles to designated parking areas.
Visuals from Prayagraj depict shuttle buses filled beyond capacity, compelling many devotees to walk distances of 10-15 kilometres to reach the Mahakumbh grounds. According to a report from an HT correspondent, the immense turnout has posed logistical challenges for authorities.
To address the situation, Kumbh’s Deputy Inspector General Vaibhav Krishna informed PTI that additional police forces had been deployed to enhance crowd control measures. In anticipation of the rising numbers, the railway department has increased vigilance at stations, operating around 13,667 trains since the start of the event to accommodate the influx of passengers.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Yashwant Singh told ANI that barricades and holding areas had been set up at Ayodhya Dham railway station to prevent overcrowding on platforms, in response to concerns following the recent tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. Authorities are ensuring that no platform exceeds its capacity to prevent similar incidents.
Additionally, many devotees are extending their pilgrimage by visiting Ayodhya’s newly inaugurated Ram Mandir after taking a holy dip at Maha Kumbh, as the two cities are just 160 kilometres apart. Given the heightened activity, security arrangements in Ayodhya have also been strengthened.
Sources By Agencies
