Mahakumbh

Nagar, 04 Feb (H.S.): The grand Amrit Snan of Basant Panchami at Mahakumbh,

Prayagraj, saw over 2.5 crore devotees taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam.

Devotees arrived in large numbers in the days leading up to the auspicious occasion,

marking a significant spiritual event.

To

ensure smooth travel for pilgrims, the Prayagraj Railway Division operated 106

Mela Special trains on Basant Panchami, along with around 200 regular trains

from various stations, ensuring safe transportation for lakhs of devotees.

The

Amrit Snan of Basant Panchami holds immense significance in Mahakumbh,

attracting millions of devotees seeking spiritual purification. In response to

this massive influx, the Prayagraj Railway Division strategically operated both

regular and special trains, ensuring seamless travel for pilgrims.

Special

trains were run in a direction- wise manner, with services from Prayag and

Phaphamau stations catering to travelers heading towards Lucknow and Rae

Bareli, while Rambagh and Jhunsi stations managed routes towards Varanasi.

Similarly,

trains from Prayagraj Junction and Subedarganj were directed towards Delhi,

Agra, and Kanpur, whereas services from Naini and Chheoki stations operated

towards Satna, Maihar, and Manikpur.

This

meticulous planning ensured that devotees could travel conveniently without

unnecessary congestion. Estimates suggest that about 10 lakh passengers were

safely transported to their destinations on Basant Panchami.

Amit

Malviya, Senior Public Relations Officer of Prayagraj Railway, stated that the

highest number of 55 Mela Special trains were operated from Prayagraj Junction.

Other stations included 11 trains from Chheoki, 2 from Naini Junction, 8 from

Subedarganj, 15 from Prayagraj and Phaphamau, 6 from Rambagh, and 9 from Jhunsi

station towards Varanasi.

To

manage the large crowds efficiently, a color-coded directional shelter system

was implemented, guiding passengers in an orderly manner. The movement of

pilgrims was continuously monitored through CCTV cameras from the railway

control room, allowing authorities to issue real-time instructions and ensure a

well-coordinated crowd management system.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi