After the unfortunate incident that took place at Prayagraj Mahakumbh on Wednesday on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a meeting with administrative and top police officials through video conferencing late night. Senior police officers and district administration officials posted in districts/zones/ranges like Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Varanasi, Ayodhya Mirzapur, Basti, Jaunpur, Chitrakoot, Banda Ambedkarnagar, Pratapgarh, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bhadohi, Rae Bareli, Gorakhpur etc. were present in it. Taking updated information from ADG and District Magistrate Prayagraj, the Chief Minister directed to maintain constant vigilance and caution in the Mahakumbh Mela area.
The Chief Minister inquired from the officials of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Chitrakoot about the arrangements made for the safety and convenience of the devotees coming from various areas there. Similarly, the officials of all the districts sharing the border with Prayagraj were instructed to keep in constant contact and coordination with the Prayagraj administration.
What instructions did the CM give in the meeting
- A large number of devotees are present at all the railway stations of Prayagraj. These are the devotees who are now returning to their homes after taking bath. ADG and District Magistrate Prayagraj should ensure that every devotee reaches his destination safely. This is our responsibility. For this, continuous operation of trains should be ensured by making contact and coordination with the railways. Additional buses of the Transport Corporation should also be deployed.
- Holding areas have been created in the border areas to avoid crowd pressure in the fair area. Let them proceed further after looking at the situation. Wherever people have been stopped, food/drinking water should be arranged for everyone. Not a single devotee should have the problem of food and water. Electricity supply should not be disrupted in any holding area.
- Ensure compliance of the instructions received from Prayagraj, the border district of Prayagraj. Increase patrolling. Traffic should not be blocked anywhere on all routes like Ayodhya-Prayagraj, Kanpur-Prayagraj, Fatehpur-Prayagraj, Lucknow-Pratapgarh-Prayagraj, Varanasi-Prayagraj. All the routes returning from Prayagraj should be kept open continuously.
- Traffic should continue in the Maha Kumbh Mela area. Do not stop unnecessary people. Do not let the crowd pressure build up anywhere. There should be no jam on the roads. If there are street vendors etc. on the roads, then arrange them in empty areas. Traffic should continue uninterrupted. There should not be a jam anywhere.
- ‘Amrit Snan’ is to be held on the occasion of Basant Panchami on 3 February. The Chief Secretary and Director General of Police should review the arrangements of the Mahakumbh Mela area on Thursday. Focus on every point related to security and convenience in view of Basant Panchami.
- To further improve the arrangements in the Mahakumbh, Ashish Goyal, who served as Divisional Commissioner in Prayagraj during Kumbh 2019, and Bhanu Goswami, who was the VC of ADA, are being deployed.
- In addition, 5 officers of the Special Secretary level are also being sent. All of them will be present in Prayagraj till February 12 and will help in improving the arrangements. In addition, Superintendent of Police level officers will also be deployed.
- Lakhs of devotees coming to the Mahakumbh are also reaching Varanasi and Ayodhya for darshan and worship. A large number of people are arriving in Chitrakoot and Mirzapur as well. More people are expected to arrive in the next two days. In view of this, special vigilance is required in all three major cities. Maintain constant vigilance and caution.
- Stop people by creating a holding area and let them proceed according to the circumstances. Use barricading. There should be better traffic management. There should be proper parking arrangements. Keep monitoring continuously.
