Devotees continued to flock to the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on the 36th day of the festival, with over 520 million pilgrims having taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam so far. The event, known as the world’s largest human gathering, has seen an overwhelming influx of devotees, especially on Monday, with large crowds observed at the Prayagraj Railway Station.
To manage the massive crowds, police forces remained vigilant throughout the day. On Sunday, the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), G P Singh, conducted a review of the security arrangements for the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. Singh praised the “fine synergy” between the Uttar Pradesh Police, CRPF, and other involved agencies. The CRPF shared an update on social media, noting, “In Prayagraj, DG GP Singh assessed security arrangements for Mahakumbh, guiding CRPF officials on balancing vigilance with seamless public assistance. He appreciated the fine synergy between UP Police, CRPF, and all agencies involved while commending their hard work so far in maintaining security.”
To alleviate the burden on transport services due to the surge in passenger numbers, Northern Railway announced the operation of four special trains aimed at ensuring smooth travel for both devotees and travelers. The special trains include:
- Train No 04420: New Delhi to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 19:00 hrs (via New Delhi-Ghaziabad-Moradabad-Bareilly-Lucknow-Raebareli Jn-Phaphamau Jn).
- Train No 04422: New Delhi to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 21:00 hrs (same route as Train No. 04420).
- Train No 04424: Anand Vihar Terminal to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 20:00 hrs (via Ghaziabad-Moradabad-Bareilly-Lucknow-Raebareli-Phaphamau).
- Train No 04418: New Delhi to Darbhanga Jn, departing at 15:00 hrs (via New Delhi-Ghaziabad-Chipyana Buzurg-Kanpur-Lucknow-Phaphamau-Varanasi-Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn-Patliputra Jn-Darbhanga).
These special trains were introduced to handle the increased passenger traffic during the Mahakumbh Mela and to provide added convenience to travelers.
In response to the recent stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday, which tragically resulted in 18 deaths and numerous injuries, Central Railway also announced the operation of four additional special trains for pilgrims traveling to Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh. The railway authorities are focused on ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of the large number of pilgrims arriving for the religious event.