Speaking to ANI, Maha Kumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna stated, “Legal action has been initiated against 140 social media handles for sharing false and misleading information.”

This crackdown comes after objectionable videos featuring women pilgrims bathing in Triveni Sangam surfaced online. In response, the Uttar Pradesh Police’s social media team has intensified monitoring efforts across various platforms.

Full Preparedness for Maha Shivratri

With a massive turnout of devotees expected on February 26, the final day of the Maha Kumbh, coinciding with Maha Shivratri, officials have ensured comprehensive arrangements for crowd and traffic management.

“Our priority is to prevent traffic congestion and ensure smooth operations across the Maha Kumbh area, regardless of the crowd size,” DIG Krishna assured.

Record-Breaking Footfall at Maha Kumbh

According to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, over 62 crore pilgrims have already participated in the holy dip at Triveni Sangam since the event began on January 13. On Sunday alone, nearly 87 lakh devotees took part in the ritual, as per government data.

Tight Security at Ayodhya Dham Railway Station

To manage the rising influx of devotees, authorities at Ayodhya Dham railway station have introduced strict crowd control measures, including:

• Deployment of 350+ security personnel
• Barricading key areas to regulate movement
• Setting up designated holding areas for passenger flow
• Restricting platform access to only those whose trains have arrived

“Announcements are being made regularly to keep passengers informed. Entry is permitted only when a train is at the platform to prevent overcrowding,” said DSP Yashwant Singh.

Conclusion

With heightened security, legal actions, and well-planned logistics, authorities are working to ensure a smooth and safe Maha Kumbh experience, particularly as the festival nears its grand finale on Maha Shivratri.

The fatal crash occurred near the Meja police station in Prayagraj at approximately 2 AM. The victims, pilgrims from Chhattisgarh’s Korba district, were en route to the Sangam for a holy dip when their vehicle reportedly lost control and crashed into a bus carrying devotees from Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh. Authorities suspect that the Bolero’s driver may have dozed off, leading to the accident.

Official Response

DCP Yamunanagar Vivek Chandra Yadav confirmed that the bodies have been sent to Swaroop Rani Nehru Medical Hospital for post-mortem, while necessary legal procedures are underway. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to expedite relief efforts and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.

Series of Maha Kumbh Tragedies

The Prayagraj accident is the second fatal incident involving Maha Kumbh devotees this week.

• Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: On Tuesday, seven pilgrims returning from the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj lost their lives when their mini-bus collided with a truck near Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district. The accident occurred around 8:30 AM when a truck, reportedly driving on the wrong side of the highway, crashed into the mini-bus. Several passengers were trapped in the wreckage.
• Kaimur, Bihar: On the same day, another collision between a truck and an auto claimed three more lives in Bihar’s Kaimur district near the Muthani area under the Mohania police station. The victims were also returning from the Maha Kumbh Mela.

Authorities have urged drivers to exercise caution, especially during long journeys, to prevent further tragedies.

Key Updates from Maha Kumbh 2025:

• Massive Devotee Turnout: With the one-month-long Kalpavas period concluding today, the number of devotees taking a holy dip is expected to surpass 500 million by the end of the event.
• Security & Traffic Management: The Uttar Pradesh Police have heightened security measures, enforcing a ‘No Vehicle’ zone in the area. Only essential and emergency services are permitted entry. A special traffic plan is in effect until the completion of the Snan.
• Restricted Vehicle Entry for Kalpavasis: Pilgrims observing Kalpavas can only bring their vehicles into the fairgrounds after completing their ritual bath.
• Railway Readiness: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reviewed preparations across eight railway stations to ensure seamless transportation for pilgrims.
• Online Classes for Students: To ease congestion, all secondary schools in Prayagraj have shifted to online classes from February 7 to 12.
• CM Yogi Adityanath’s Appeal: The Chief Minister has urged officials to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience. He also extended his greetings to saints and pilgrims attending the Magh Purnima Snan.
• Record Participation: Since the Maha Kumbh commenced on January 13 with Paush Purnima, over 450 million devotees have performed the sacred Triveni Snan.

With two major bathing festivals—Basant Panchami (February 3) and Maha Shivaratri (February 26)—still ahead, Maha Kumbh 2025 is set to become one of the largest religious gatherings in history.

Frustrated travelers described the chaos as “the world’s biggest traffic jam”, with reports of vehicles crawling at a snail’s pace—taking 12 hours to cover just 50 km! Videos flooding social media showed endless lines of cars and trucks jam-packed across Katni, Jabalpur, Maihar, and Rewa districts in Madhya Pradesh.

To prevent overcrowding at the MP-UP border, police blocked routes, urging devotees to find shelter and wait. Authorities are scrambling to manage the surge, providing food, water, and accommodation for those stuck. MP BJP President VD Sharma has called on party workers to assist stranded pilgrims in every way possible.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, which began on January 13 and will conclude on February 26, has already drawn a staggering 40 crore visitors. Officials expect the situation to ease in the coming days, but for now, thousands remain at the mercy of the jam-packed highways!

Prayagraj: The total number of devotees who have taken a holy dip at the Sangam since the beginning of the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on January 13 has crossed 40.68 crore (406.8 million) as of Friday (8 PM), according to government figures. On Friday alone, 94.07 lakh devotees participated in the sacred ritual.

Soaring Numbers, Record Turnouts

By Thursday night (8 PM), the pilgrim count had reached 39.74 crore (397.4 million), with 67.20 lakh devotees taking a dip that day. On Friday morning (10 AM), an additional 42.07 lakh pilgrims bathed, increasing to 47 lakh by noon, and further 78.78 lakh by 4 PM, before reaching 94.07 lakh by evening.

With 19 days remaining before the Mahakumbh concludes on February 26 (Maha Shivratri Snan), officials anticipate that the total count could surpass 50 crore (500 million).

Historic Amrit Snans

The Mahakumbh has already witnessed three major Amrit Snans:

• Makar Sankranti (January 14): 3.5 crore pilgrims
• Mauni Amavasya (January 29): 8 crore pilgrims (highest turnout)
• Basant Panchami (February 3): 2.57 crore pilgrims

Other significant bathing days included Paush Purnima (1.7 crore), January 30 (2 crore), and February 1 (2 crore).

VVIPs and Celebrities at the Mahakumbh

Several political leaders, celebrities, and spiritual figures have participated in the grand event.

Prominent Political Figures:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
• Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath
• UP Governor Anandiben Patel
• Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma
• Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini
• Manipur CM N. Biren Singh
• Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel
• Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Shripad Naik
• Opposition Leaders: SP President Akhilesh Yadav, UP Assembly LoP Mata Prasad Pandey

Celebrity Attendees:

• Hema Malini (Actor, Mathura MP)
• Anupam Kher, Bhagyashree, Milind Soman (Bollywood)
• Olympic Medalist Saina Nehwal
• Cricketer Suresh Raina
• Wrestler The Great Khali
• Choreographer Remo D’Souza
• Poet Kumar Vishwas
• Actors Mamta Kulkarni, Isha Gupta

President Droupadi Murmu’s Scheduled Visit

President Droupadi Murmu is set to visit Prayagraj on February 10 to participate in the sacred ritual at the Triveni Sangam.

With lakhs of devotees continuing to arrive each day, the Mahakumbh 2024 remains an unprecedented spiritual gathering in history.