A three-member judicial panel will reach the Maha Kumbh on Friday to probe the cause of the tragic stampede at the ongoing event that resulted in 30 deaths and injuries to 60 people on Wednesday.
The Judicial Enquiry Commission, set up to investigate the incident, will first hold a meeting with the officials involved in the arrangements and management of the large-scale event. Afterward, they will visit the site of the stampede.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of those who died in the mishap. The government has said that the stampede was triggered by devotees pushing against barricades in an attempt to reach the Sangam nose area.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has enforced stricter measures for better crowd management and the safety of devotees. These include restrictions on vehicular movement, the cancellation of VIP passes, increased security deployment, and the removal of unnecessary restrictions on the pontoon bridges that connect the mela city.
Entry of all types of vehicles is strictly prohibited in the Maha Kumbh fair area, with no special passes allowing vehicle entry, eliminating any exceptions. A one-way traffic system has been implemented to streamline the movement of devotees, and vehicles arriving from neighboring districts of Prayagraj are being stopped at district borders to reduce congestion.
The entry of four-wheelers into the city is completely banned until February 4 to maintain order.
To further assist with crowd management, IAS officers Ashish Goyal and Bhanu Goswami have been directed to reach Prayagraj. Both bureaucrats played key roles in the successful management of the 2019 Ardh Kumbh, with Bhanu Goswami serving as District Magistrate and Vice Chairman of the Kumbh Mela Authority, and Ashish Goyal as the Commissioner of Allahabad, overseeing the management.
Additionally, five special secretary-rank officers with previous experience in handling large-scale events have been assigned to assist with Maha Kumbh operations.
-IANS