VVIP passes cancelled, no vehicles allowed: Major safety changes after tragic stampede at Maha Kumbh

Lucknow: In an apparent bid to avoid recurrence of a 'stampede-like' situation in the Maha Kumbh, the Mela administration has brought in several major changes in arrangements in the Kumbh Mela zone.

The authorities were also on alert in the three other nearby religious towns of Ayodhya, Varanasi and Chitrakoot, which were also witnessing a surge in the number of devotees.

According to the officials, the Mela area has been declared a ‘no vehicle’ zone and entry of vehicles, except ambulances, has been completely banned. Besides, all VVIP passes have also been cancelled.

Besides this, one-way traffic system has been introduced in the Mela area and there would be separate paths for entry and exit.

The officials said that the vehicles arriving into Prayagraj were being stopped on its borders and not allowed entry.

The state government has also deployed five senior officials of the rank of special secretary to assist the Mela administration in crowd management. All these officials were earlier deployed in Prayagraj.

All these new arrangements would remain in force till Basant Panchami on February 3. The third major 'snan' will take place on the occasion of Basant Panchami.

According to the reports, officials were prioritising the departure of a huge crowd of devotees, who were on their way back home, stationed at different railway and bus stations in Prayagraj.

The state transport corporation has deployed additional buses to ferry the devotees to their destinations.

Reports said that the authorities have also deployed additional security personnel in Ayodhya, which has been witnessing a record number of devotees in the past few days.

In Varanasi, night shelters have been set up near the railway station. Sources said that the entry of vehicles has been banned into Chitrakoot also.