UP brings new measures after stampede deaths rock Mahakumbh mela

Seven people were found dead at the spot at Jhusi due to excessive crowd pressure,

the circle officer told HT

We were tired after such a long journey but as soon as we took a dip in the river, we just felt so fresh and happy. It was as if all that inconvenience was really worth it,

she said

We are looking at making some changes now,

Krishna, said, adding

In anticipation of a large number of pilgrims, we are further strengthening the deployment of police personnel and security forces,

deputy inspector general of Maha Kumbh Nagar, Vaibhav Krishna said

After reaching Phaphamau (outskirts of Prayagraj) by bus, I was left stranded due to a massive traffic jam,

said Hemandra Dwivedi, a Lucknow resident

Vehicle passes will not be valid until all devotees have safely left for their destinations,

Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Anshuman Mishra said

Tomorrow (Friday), we will visit the site to conduct an inspection and analyse the possible causes and circumstances surrounding the incident. We will carefully consider all factors and are required to submit our report within one month,

said Kumar

As a result, VIPs and VVIP delegations planning to visit Prayagraj ...will not receive special privileges or protocols. Additionally, the government has made it clear that any VIP or VVIP movement must be informed at least a week in advance. This rule will help prevent last-minute VIP visits that could disrupt arrangements for pilgrims,

an official statement said

We were waiting in the queue to take the holy dip on the occasion of Mouni Amavashya,

Pushpa narrated the ordeal

I have been speaking to Chief Minister Yogi ji and am in constant touch with the state government,

he said

We’ve obviously heard about the stampede,

said 21-year-old Naveen Pradhan, who arrived with his family just hours after the tragedy

But this is a sacred duty—we wouldn’t miss it no matter what,

he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency

Thank you so, so much for all the exceptionally kind messages, checking if we’re ok. We are - but there were countless utterly terrifying times this morning, and they weren’t over quickly,

he told wellwishers

Renu Devipilgrim

Then suddenly my mother fainted, and some other elderly people also fainted, which created a commotion. We fell down and many people stepped over us,

said Devi, wailing next to the bodies of her mother and sister-in-law at a city mortuary

Thank you again for all your messages. It means more to us - me and the heroic crew - than you might imagine.”

The broadcaster concluded

Everyone is deeply sad about the loss of life here. Those desperate pilgrims,

Rajan added

It is important to get to the bottom of how such a tragedy occurred,

said an emotional Adityanath

People were asking police to open the barricades to other routes as it was suffocating to stand there in that crowd for almost an hour. We couldn't breathe,

Jagwanti Devi, who was in the crowd with her family of six, said on Thursday

There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,

the Hindustan Times newspaper said in an editorial

We are walking very carefully and trying to avoid the crowded areas,

he told Reuters