West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday emphasised the need for better planning and management for pilgrims, as she expressed her condolences over the loss of 18 lives in a tragic stampede at New Delhi railway station on Saturday night.
After the end of the Magh Purnima bathing, the Mela Authorities have started the preparations to set new milestones at the Mahakumbh with the arrival of a team of Guinness Book of World Records.
More than one lakh devotees participated in the holy bath today at the Triveni Sangam under the supervision of the state government.
UP DGP Prashant Kumar said that the Magh Purnima Snan was successful with over 20 million pilgrims having taken a bath and the total number of pilgrims crossing 48 crores.
At least 30 people, mostly women, died and around 60 people were injured after a "stampede-like" situation broke out at the Sangam on Wednesday amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh as a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya.
32 pilgrims over the age of 65 years will benefit from this free air trip for their pilgrimage. Among them are 24 men and eight women.
Officials said Yatra was resumed on Monday from Pahalgam base camp while it was not resumed from Baltal base camp because the 14 km long north Kashmir trek is damaged at three places.
Initial probe did not point to use of any explosive device. The probable cause is being ascertained with a forensic science laboratory (FSL) team deputed on spot.
As many as 15,000 pilgrims will be allowed daily at Badrinath, 12,000 at Kedarnath, 7,000 at Gangotri and 4,000 at Yamunotri. This arrangement has been made for 45 days.
Notably, amid the threats of the coronavirus, the district administration has set up 13 medical screening camps at all the major entry points including the railway stations at Howrah and Sealdah. In addition, 13 RAT/RTPCR testing facilities, eight safe homes, 11 quarantine centres, five isolation centres, 600 bedded Covid Hospitals and six wellness centres have also been arranged along with one air and three 3 water ambulances and 85 ambulance vehicles.
