Prayagraj: Managing traffic during the ongoing Maha Kumbh poses a significant challenge for the Uttar Pradesh Police. However, police officials express confidence in handling the situation effectively with the assistance of devotees and the use of drones for monitoring purposes. Bhanu Bhaskar, the Additional Director General (ADG) in Prayagraj, informed that over 9 million devotees visited the city on Friday for the Maha Kumbh. Despite the large crowds, he noted that the police managed the situation efficiently.
“Prem Gautam, our Inspector General for the Prayagraj region, toured Kaushambi and Fatehpur, evaluating drone footage,” Bhaskar said. He personally inspected several areas as well. “Although the volume of traffic was significant, everything was under control. The personnel of UP Police are working diligently to ensure a smooth experience for all devotees,” he added.
The Uttar Pradesh administration announced that the Maha Kumbh has become the largest event globally, with over 500 million direct participants. On Paush Purnima, 17 million devotees took a holy dip, followed by 35 million on Makar Sankranti, 76.4 million on Mauni Amavasya, 25.7 million on Basant Panchami, and 14 million on Magh Purnima. By 4:00 PM on Friday, more than 7.9 million devotees had immersed themselves in the Triveni Sangam.
Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh government reported that more than 200,000 Kalpavasis and about 7.7 million devotees attended the Maha Kumbh Mela on Friday, with over 400,000 individuals traveling by 140 trains to be part of the event.
In a related note, Uttar Pradesh Police have taken action against 54 social media accounts for disseminating “misleading” information and “spreading rumors” regarding the Maha Kumbh. Authorities particularly addressed two videos circulating online that inaccurately associated a fire incident in Egypt with the event. One of these videos showed an oil pipeline accident from 2020, misleadingly labeled as “Mahakumbh bus stand fire, with 40-50 vehicles burned to ashes.”
The 2025 Maha Kumbh, which started on Paush Purnima (January 13, 2025), is recognized as the largest spiritual and cultural gathering in the world, drawing devotees from around the globe. The event will continue until Mahashivratri on February 26.