Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reportedly lost his cool during a high-level review meeting over severe traffic congestion in Prayagraj amid the ongoing Mahakumbh. Expressing his displeasure, he reprimanded senior police officials for their failure to manage the situation.
During the meeting, CM Yogi specifically targeted Prayagraj ADG Bhanu Bhaskar, questioning his accountability. “You have such a big responsibility, how can you avoid it?” he asked sternly. He further emphasized, “Everyone has to fulfill their responsibility and not pass it on to others.”
Challenging the officials on their preparedness, he grilled the ADG, asking, “What were you and your team doing when there was so much traffic? Your work is going to be suspended. Everyone knows that there is a crowd on holidays, so what arrangements did you make for Saturday and Sunday?”
Record-Breaking Devotee Turnout at Mahakumbh
The traffic issues surfaced as the state government announced that it had achieved its ambitious target of welcoming 450 million devotees to Prayagraj for the grand religious congregation. According to official data, by Tuesday morning—15 days before the conclusion of Mahakumbh—the number of saints, devotees, and pilgrims visiting the Triveni Sangam had surpassed 450 million.
On Tuesday alone, by 8 AM, nearly 50 lakh devotees took the holy dip, marking a significant milestone in the religious festival. With two major bathing festivals still remaining, authorities expect the total number of pilgrims to exceed 500 million.
Despite all three major Amrit Snans—Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, and Basant Panchami—already being observed, the enthusiasm among devotees remains high. Pilgrims from across India and the world continue to arrive in Prayagraj in massive numbers.
High-Profile Participation
The Mahakumbh has seen participation from several prominent political figures. Among those who took a dip in the sacred Triveni Sangam are President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and CM Yogi Adityanath, along with his cabinet ministers.
Other key leaders who participated include UP Governor Anandi Ben Patel, Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal, Haryana CM Naib Singh Saini, Manipur CM N. Biren Singh, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, and Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Shripad Naik.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy, Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, and even Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav were also among those who took part in the ritual.