Maha Kumbh: Top IAS Officers Roped In As UP Govt Aims For ‘Zero Error’ During Amrit Snan After Deadly Stampede

The focus of the administration is on strict compliance after the stampede during the Mauni Amavasya dip on January 29, which claimed at least 30 lives and left around 60 injured.

Representational Image | As the next Amrit Snan at the Maha Kumbh approaches, officials prioritise error-free execution, deploying experienced IAS officers, and intensifying crowd control measures.

Source : PTI

As the next Amrit Snan at the Maha Kumbh approaches Basant Panchami on Monday, top officials are prioritising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directive of ensuring “zero error” execution. The focus of the administration is on strict compliance after the stampede during the Mauni Amavasya dip on January 29, which claimed at least 30 lives and left around 60 injured.

In order to see the smooth conduct of the Mela, the UP government has also deployed two senior IAS officers, Ashish Goyal and Bhanu Chandra Goswami, who have hands-on experience in administration in Prayagraj and were part of the team that successfully conducted the 2019 Ardh Kumbh. Their expertise in administration, crowd control, and inter-agency coordination will support Mela Adhikari Vijay Kiran Anand in overseeing the event.

According to a report by the news agency PTI, additional Director General of Police Bhanu Bhaskar is personally supervising crowd control measures. On Mauni Amavasya (January 29), which resulted in casualties, the chief minister visited Prayagraj for the first time after the incident on Saturday.

He inspected the site and went to hospitals to check on the condition of the injured. In a review meeting for upcoming 'snan' he directed officials to ensure the event is executed "without any errors".

On Sunday, ADG Bhaskar arrived at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in the Mela Authority building, monitoring the fairgrounds, key intersections, and entry points through large screens. He also used loudspeakers to instruct the crowd to clear the ghats, reinforcing safety measures.

Speaking at ICCC, he said, "Please do not linger unnecessarily on the ghats after bathing; clear the area so that other devotees may bathe. Do not eat or drink on the ghats and go to designated areas for refreshments." Directing the police officers, Bhaskar ordered to ensure no crowd could gather anywhere on the sangam and they must leave for other destinations quickly after the holy dip.

PM Modi Likely To Visit 'Sangam' On February 5

A Mela administration official stated that the entire police force has been instructed to focus on effective crowd management throughout the fairgrounds. Meanwhile, senior administrative officers Bhanu Chandra Goswami and Ashish Goyal, who arrived from Lucknow, are assisting the Mela administration by sharing their past experiences in handling large-scale events.

Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of the All India Akhada Parishad, urged devotees to avoid overcrowding at the Sangam. He emphasised that the entire five kos area of Prayagraj is considered part of the Sangam, meaning pilgrims can attain the spiritual benefits of Maha Kumbh by bathing anywhere from Phaphamau to Arail. "Since the Sangam area is limited, we request all devotees to refrain from unnecessary crowding," he said.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Maha Kumbh Nagar on February 5. In light of this, the coming days are expected to be particularly challenging for the Mela administration and security personnel.

Special Buses Deployed

In addition, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has deployed a special fleet of shuttle and reserved buses to accommodate the large number of devotees arriving in Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh holy dip on Basant Panchami.  

To facilitate a smooth return, UPSRTC has stationed 2,500 buses across four temporary bus terminals. Jhunsi has the highest allocation with 1,500 buses, followed by 600 at Bela Kachhar for Lucknow-bound travelers, 300 at Nehru Park for Kanpur-bound passengers, and 100 for those heading to Mirzapur and Banda.  

Additionally, 550 shuttle buses will run every two minutes, transporting devotees between key Mahakumbh locations and the temporary bus stations.

All 'Snan' Of Maha Kumbh 

The Amrit Snan is the most significant and sacred ritual of the Maha Kumbh Mela, drawing millions of pilgrims from across the globe to the Triveni Sangam. It is believed that taking a holy dip during these special celestial alignments cleanses one’s sins and paves the way for moksha (salvation).

The dates for the Amrit Snan are determined based on astrological alignments of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter, which are believed to amplify the spiritual energy of the sacred rivers. This year, the first two Amrit Snan took place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti) and January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), with the next scheduled for February 3 (Basant Panchami).

According to the Hindu calendar, Basant Panchami falls on Magh Shukla Panchami, marking the auspicious arrival of spring.

Apart from the Amrit Snan dates, there are three other major bathing days: January 13 (Paush Purnima), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Mahashivratri), which also marks the conclusion of this once-in-12-years event.

As the Basant Panchami Snan progresses, the crowd continues to grow, with nearly 90 lakh devotees having taken a dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam by 12 pm on Sunday. Since January 13, over 33.61 crore pilgrims have participated in the sacred baths at Maha Kumbh.