The ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, attracted more than 50 crore devotees, leading to significant traffic congestion in Prayagraj and nearby areas. Travel times have surged from 15 minutes to almost three hours due to the crowding and worsened after a tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that claimed at least 18 lives.
An inquiry report indicated a connection between a surge in ticket sales to Prayagraj and overcrowding from a special train announcement for Maha Kumbh devotees. The stampede occurred as passengers hurried from platform 14 to 16 after news of the extra train spread. Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, affirmed no cancellations due to the incident, attributing the chaos to a passenger slipping on the bridge.
After the stampede, railway stations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are on high alert. Special vigilance on Prayagraj-bound train platforms stressed by ADG Railways Prakash D. Indian Railways offers compensation to victims’ families and injured. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav calls for extending Maha Kumbh due to the overwhelming number of devotees.
The stampede victims included nine women, five children, and four men. Delhi Police are investigating the incident, reviewing CCTV footage to determine its cause. Eyewitnesses at New Delhi Railway Station described chaos on platforms 14 and 15. Ravi, an eyewitness, stated, “Platforms remained unchanged, but the uncontrollable crowd caused mayhem.”
The Uttar Pradesh government noted more participants this year at Maha Kumbh than populations of certain countries combined. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed it as symbolizing India’s spirituality, unity, equality, and harmony. He noted that the immersion in sacred waters during the event outnumbered populations of countries like the United States, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Sources News From Various Digital Platforms, Websites, Journalists, And Agencies.
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