Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed senior officials to ensure that devotees attending the upcoming Magh Mela encounter no inconvenience, ordering field inspections and a tight focus on safety and logistics across all relevant districts. The instructions were issued during a video-conference review of festival preparations with district magistrates.
Magh Mela preparations and safety measures
Officials were told to prioritise security, uninterrupted services and cleanliness at bathing ghats and temple precincts in major centres linked to the Magh Mela, including Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Hapur (Gadhamukteshwar), Mathura–Vrindavan, Farrukhabad and Shahjahanpur. The chief minister stressed that the state government’s highest priority is the safety and convenience of devotees, and warned that negligence at any level would not be tolerated.
Anticipating heavy attendance — officials estimate between 1.5 million and 2.5 million visitors on Paush Purnima in Prayagraj — the government ordered a special strengthening of health services. District administrations must ensure adequate hospital capacity, medical staff, ambulances, clean toilets, potable water and dedicated facilities for women. Diving teams and rescue personnel are to be deployed at key ghats to respond to river emergencies.
Crowd control, infrastructure and services
The chief minister asked the Public Works Department to construct permanent helipads at district headquarters, circuit houses and block-level centres to support emergency response. Officials must also guarantee continuous electricity supply, set up control rooms, establish clear entry and exit routes for fairground areas and provide changing rooms for women.
To curb exploitation, authorities were instructed to prevent boatmen and hotel operators from charging arbitrary fees. The government will take stringent action against land mafias and antisocial elements who threaten public order or attempt to seize private property. Senior officers were ordered to conduct site inspections immediately and ensure subordinates complete all arrangements.
Contingency planning and public comfort
Recognising the risk posed by strong river currents, the administration has directed the erection of barricades where necessary to protect devotees. The chief minister also emphasised measures to mitigate congestion on roads by removing unauthorised taxi and bus stands and relocating vendors to designated areas.
District magistrates have been given ten days to prepare a flood-prevention plan and to forward it to the chief minister’s office, the chief secretary and the principal secretary within the stipulated timeframe. Authorities were also told to enhance the public hearing mechanism so that citizens’ grievances are addressed promptly.
With winter conditions in mind, officials were ordered to ensure adequate facilities at night shelters and to light bonfires at railway stations, bus stands and other public points to help people cope with cold spells. The measures reflect a comprehensive drive by the Uttar Pradesh government to combine crowd management, public health and infrastructure upgrades ahead of one of the region’s largest religious gatherings.
Key Takeaways:
- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered officers to ensure devotees face no inconvenience during Magh Mela preparations.
- Officials instructed to bolster health services, crowd management, permanent helipads and flood prevention plans across key districts.
- Measures include women’s facilities, controls on arbitrary fees by boatmen and hotels, diver deployment at ghats and strict action against antisocial elements.
