By Shreyanka Nandan
The auspicious hour of Maha Shivratri marks the end of Kumbh Mela 2025. Devotees for the last time got the opportunity to be part of the six-week long celebration of the world’s largest religious gathering.
The main measures taken from the Police of Prayagraj on Wednesday:
The entire Kumbh Mela area has been turned into a ‘no vehicle zone’ so that the rush of the devotees can be controlled. According to the PTI report given by DIG of Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, ‘no VIP treatment’ was allowed.
As per the government, the devotees were advised to take a dip at their nearest ghats. The devotees who came from Uttar Jhunsi were asked to go to the Harishchandra Ghat and Old GT Ghat and those from Dakshini Jhunsi were asked to go to the Arail Ghat, from Pande area were asked to go to Bharadwaj Ghat, Nagavasuki Ghat, Mori Ghat, Ram Ghat, Hanuman Ghat and Kali Ghat.
The area was prepared to handle a two-pronged situation by imposing enough security that could maintain 1.33 crore approx. devotees as said by DIG.
According to data, more than 37,000 police, 14,000 home guards, 2750 AI-based CCTV cameras, three Jal Police stations, 18 Jal Police control rooms and 50 watchtowers were assigned to maintain the crowd.
As per previous experience, 350 special trains were arranged for the devotees.
After the stampede incident, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway and the Northern Railways were kept under high alert. Pankaj Kumar Singh, NER CPRO said, including regular ring rail, long distance and special Mela trains total 60 trains were operated until 4pm on Tuesday. 25 more special trains were arranged for Maha Shivratri only. 850 RPF personnel and 290 commercial staff were employed at Jhunsi Station and 500 RPF personnel and 250 commercial staff were kept on duty at Prayagraj Rambagh.
Adequate fire arrangements were made, 50 fire stations and 20 fire posts were kept on standby as reported to PTI by the Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma.