Sanatan Dharma Opponents Failed Before Patience of Sadhus: Yogi

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday praised sadhus attending the Mahakumbh for facing the challenges after the stampede on January 29 with courage and patience, and helping people overcome a difficult situation similar to family elders.

- HT Correspondent

HT Correspondent [e-mail] MAHAKUMBH NAGAR (PRAYAGRAJ): Hectic preparations are underway in Prayagraj city as well as the temporary tent city of Mahakumbh Nagar ahead of the third and final Amrit Snan of Basant Panchami set to take place on February 3.

Taking lessons from the stampedes on Mauni Amavasya (on January 29) which, according to official figures, claimed 30 lives of pilgrims and left another 60 injured, officials are on double alert and even the state government has sent in additional officials to help buttress all arrangements.

The focus: Making Basant Panchami bathing a 'zero-error' exercise.

The Mela police administration has decided to not just rely on modern technology but also trust time-tested old methods of managing massive crowds. All police station and police outpost in-charges of the sprawling 40 sq km mela area have been instructed to immediately send information to higher authorities through wireless if a sudden crowd surge is witnessed anywhere at the bathing ghats and fair area beyond the area's capacity.

This has been done to ensure that a crowd does not gather at any one place, said officials.

"Every possible effort is being made to make Mahakumbh safe. All police station and outpost in-charges have been instructed not to allow unnecessary crowd gathering at Ghats and fair area. It has been advised to continuously exchange information regarding crowd management," said Rajesh Dwivedi, SSP (Mahakumbh).