According to a statement issued on Wednesday, the 45-day Maha Kumbh brought forth many success stories, but one that stood out was that of Pintu Mahara, the boatman from the Arail area of Prayagraj.

“Pintu Mahara, a boatman from the Arail area of Prayagraj, earned Rs 30 crores in 45 days. Pintu’s life took a dramatic turn with one bold decision. Anticipating a massive influx of devotees, he expanded his fleet from 60 to 130 boats ahead of the Maha Kumbh,” the statement read.

“This strategic move proved highly rewarding, ensuring substantial earnings and securing his family’s future for generations,” the statement said. The press statement did not give other details, including the cost incurred on purchasing the boat and the daily cost of running one boat.

The statement came a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told the state assembly about the earnings of the family while countering the opposition’s criticism of the Maha Kumbh.

Reacting to the Samajwadi Party’s allegation that the boatmen of Prayagraj were “exploited,” the chief minister told the House, “I am telling the success story of a boatman’s family. They have 130 boats. In 45 days (of Maha Kumbh), they made a profit of Rs 30 crore… This means each boat has earned Rs 23 lakh. On a daily basis, they earned Rs 50,000-52,000 from each boat.” The Maha Kumbh 2025 began on January 13 and ended on February 26. The state government has claimed that over 65 crore devotees visited Maha Kumbh.

At least 30 people were killed and over 90 others were injured in a stampede on January 29 at the ongoing Maha Kumbh congregation at Prayagraj, which has already witnessed a footfall of record 60 crore pilgrims.

Some 2,750 close-circuit cameras monitoring the 4000-acre Mela ground, about 250 of which are AI-enabled, feeding information to the Integrated Control and Command Center (ICCC) of the Mela have empowered the authorities with unique and real-time insights into crowd density per metre square at the bathing ghats, people flow into the Mela premises per minute, parking status of vehicles, crowd accumulation at key junctions and the need to issue alerts based on pre-set danger thresholds, officials said.

“We will analyse the data of the Mela provided by the AI system once the congregation gets over. We will hopefully be able to revise those thresholds for more effective organisation of events of such a scale next time onwards and be better equipped to avert a repetition of a tragedy like this time,” said Amit Kumar, SP and in-charge of ICCC.

Officials said that four units of the ICCC, two of which are temporary set-ups at the Mela premises, operated as the central hub for traffic management, crowd control, security and emergency response, sanitation, healthcare and public communication during the Kumbh Mela.

A sneak peek into the command centre headquarters revealed multiple teams of policemen, comprising nearly 400 personnel, monitoring round-the-clock the CCTV feed from all 25 sectors of the giant mela ground.

There are giant screens sharing real-time information based on preset algorithms, flash colour-coded data and graphical charts that are interpreted and passed on to parallel operating radio teams spread over 13 grids. They, in turn, pass on the interpreted information to ground teams for necessary action, Kumar explained.

“We expected the crowd to be big, but never expected to be this big,” the IPS officer said, “the heightened level of religious fervour among pilgrims this year led to them breaching barriers on that fateful night. We were able to contain the situation in quick time but some damage had been done.”

Officials confirmed that the standard operation procedures (SOP) were revamped following the stampede, and have, so far, paid off in controlling the swelling crowd at what is arguably the world’s largest religious congregation. “The applications of the SOPs are now being done more carefully. The frequency of announcements through our public address system has now been increased. Our announcement pitch is now stronger and more appealing than before,” Kumar said.

The 2025 edition of the Maha Kumbh will officially draw to a close on February 26 following the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers on the auspicious hours of Maha Shivratri.

According to Delhi Police sources, the chaos erupted when passengers waiting for the Prayagraj Express at Platform 14 mistook an announcement about Prayagraj Special arriving at Platform 16 for their own train. Fearing they might miss their departure, many of them rushed towards the other platform, triggering a stampede in the overcrowded station.

The preliminary investigation suggests that passengers panicked after hearing the name “Prayagraj” in the announcement, not realizing it referred to a different train.

With both trains having nearly identical names, the crowd surged towards Platform 16 in a desperate attempt to board what they assumed was their ride.

“There was confusion among the passengers regarding the train names and the change of platforms of the trains, which ultimately led to the tragedy,” an eyewitness told PTI.

Further complicating the situation, four trains bound for Prayagraj were scheduled that evening, with three of them delayed, according to police sources.

The delays resulted in unexpected overcrowding, making it difficult for passengers to move freely and increasing the likelihood of a stampede once panic set in.

“People rushing between platforms in a crowded railway station can quickly lead to chaos, and in this case, the situation became deadly due to miscommunication,” a police officer said.

Eyewitnesses reported that several people jumped onto the tracks and forcefully boarded trains bound for Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh, triggering the stampede. They also claimed that no police personnel were present to control the swelling crowd.

In response, the Railway Board has set up a two-member high-level committee to investigate the incident and determine the exact cause. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and his team are closely monitoring the situation from the war room.

Several leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed condolences for the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

The Indian Railways has announced compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives, ₹2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and ₹1 lakh for individuals with minor injuries.

Asked about Opposition members alleging that the government was hiding the number of deaths in the stampede, she said, “They will say whatever they want to… It is their job to say wrong things.”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued clear and detailed instructions for the safety and well-being of the crores of devotees. All the doctors will be deployed in the fair area for 3-4 days.

Swarooprani Nehru Hospital and Tej Bahadur Sapru Hospital are also on high alert. A special four-member medical team, including key officials like Umakant Sanyal, Dr. Manoj Kaushik, Dr. Ram Singh, and Dr. Gaurav Dubey, inspected every hospital in the fair area, ensuring that all medical supplies and equipment are in place and operational.

The stock of medicines and equipment at the sector hospitals built within the fair area has also been checked. Swarooprani Nehru Hospital has 500 medical staff on standby, with 150 beds reserved for emergencies.

Additionally, more than 50 ambulances have been kept in ready mode for emergency medical transportation. The hospital’s staff, along with SDRF, NDRF, and police teams, will be working round the clock to provide medical support and assistance.

To ensure that the doctors and medical staff are well-prepared, accommodation and food arrangements have been made at Swarooprani Nehru Hospital. All medical personnel have been instructed to remain within the hospital premises to provide immediate service if required.

The preparations for another big ‘snan’ assume significance as it comes soon after the stampede that left about 30 pilgrims dead and over 60 injured.

Guided by its ‘We Care’ philosophy, Reliance is providing pilgrims with a wide spectrum of services – from nourishing meals and essential healthcare to safe transportation and seamless connectivity. “It is said that when we serve Teerth Yatris, we too are blessed. Our services to the pilgrims who are on a spiritual journey, in a once-in-a-millennium event, aim to meet the needs of the most vulnerable among them,” said Anant Ambani, Director, Reliance Industries Limited. 

“We believe in our ‘We Care’ philosophy. At the Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest religious and cultural congregation, it is our opportunity to serve, to enable health, welfare and safety of lakhs of pilgrims, and to make their journey safer, smoother and easier.”

Eight Acts to Facilitate Pilgrims’ Progress

1. Nourishing Souls (Anna Seva): Recognising the importance of sustenance, Reliance is providing hot and nutritious meals to thousands of pilgrims daily through its Anna Seva programme. Reliance volunteers are serving free meals and water at various akharas.  Upholding the ‘We Care’ spirit, they are also actively supporting pilgrims in every possible manner. 

2. Comprehensive Healthcare: Ensuring the health and safety of pilgrims is paramount. Reliance Foundation is providing 24×7 medical care comprising facilities such as men’s and women’s wards, OPDs, and dental services. Recognising the unique needs of women pilgrims, Reliance is also distributing free sanitary napkins. 

3. Easing the Journey: Recognising the challenges faced by the elderly and those with limited mobility, Reliance is providing electric vehicles and golf carts for convenient transportation within the Kumbh Mela grounds. Furthermore, dedicated transportation is being arranged from Prayagraj to the Sangam, facilitating easy access for all pilgrims. 

4. Safety on the Sacred Waters: To ensure safety of the pilgrims venturing into the sacred waters, as well as of boatmen and Jal Police, Reliance, in collaboration with the district administration, is providing life jackets and reinforcing safety measures for boats plying on the holy rivers. 

5. Comfortable Rest Zones: Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) has established Campa Ashrams – designated rest zones to provide a comfortable and relaxing space for pilgrims during their journey.

6. Clear Navigation: Directional boards with clear and easy-to-read signages have been installed throughout the Kumbh Mela grounds to assist pilgrims in navigating the vast expanse of the venue. 

7. Enhanced Connectivity: Jio has significantly enhanced connectivity in Prayagraj by installing new 4G and 5G BTS, upgrading existing infrastructure, and deploying transportable towers and small cell solutions at critical locations. New Optical Fibre has been laid across key areas to ensure seamless communication for all. 

8. Supporting the Guardians: Recognising the invaluable service of the police, Reliance is providing water at police booths and supporting their efforts with barricades and watch towers to ensure the safety and security of all visitors.

Reliance is collaborating with renowned spiritual organisations, including Sharada Peeth Math Trust Dwarka, Shri Shankaracharya Utsav Sevalaya Foundation, Niranjani Akhara, Prabhu Premi Sangh Charitable Trust, and Parmarth Niketan Ashram, to maximise the impact of its services and reach a wider segment of pilgrims. 

As millions of devotees converge in Prayagraj, Reliance remains committed to serving the community’s needs throughout the duration of Maha Kumbh 2025. Through ‘Teerth Yatri Seva,’ Reliance strives to ensure that the pilgrims’ journey is safe, comfortable, and spiritually enriching.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lt’s consumer connect initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.)

Albinder Dhindsa, CEO of Blinkit, shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Today, we’ve opened a temporary Blinkit store in Maha Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj, to serve pilgrims and tourists.”

Today we’ve opened a temporary Blinkit store in Maha Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj to serve pilgrims and tourists.

This one is a 100 sq ft store which will be delivering in Arail Tent City, Dome City, ITDC Luxury Camp, Devrakh, and other key areas of the Maha Kumbh Mela.

Our teams are… pic.twitter.com/p8pDakE1SV — Albinder Dhindsa (@albinder) January 17, 2025

The 100-square-foot store is strategically located to serve key spots like Arail Tent City, Dome City, ITDC Luxury Camp, and Devrakh. It offers a thoughtfully selected range of products, including puja essentials such as milk, curd, fruits, and vegetables. Visitors can also find items like chargers, power banks, towels, blankets, bedsheets, and Triveni Sangam Jal bottles to enhance their comfort throughout the event.

The post received over 300K views with many users applauding it as an amazing initiative. Others have praised Blinkit for its thoughtful effort in supporting pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh.

One user remarked, “What a thoughtful initiative! Pilgrims now have one less thing to worry about with Blinkit delivering all the essentials, right where they need it.”

The second user praised, “A very good initiative. Kudos to the team Blinkit.”

A third user commented, “This is fantastic!!! It’s great that Blinkit is providing essential items to pilgrims and tourists at the Maha Kumbh Mela.”

“It’s a dream come true,” Persaud said. “I always wanted to come here and take a holy dip in the River Ganges. I have fulfilled that wish.” Persaud encouraged others to participate in the event and experience the significance of the holy dip. “I encourage those who are here to come to this event and take a dip in the holy River Ganges,” he added.

Sally El Azab from United Arab Emirates, is among the many international pilgrims who have traveled to Prayagraj, to experience the Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world. “I am coming from the Middle East to India…It is a wonderful event,” El Azab said, praising the organization of the event. “It is the largest religious gathering in the world…Here, everything is well organized to another level. The police are there for safety. The government has arranged it all very well,” he added.

The delegation, invited by the External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, arrived on Wednesday. Arrangements for the delegation’s stay have been made at the Tent City in Arail, developed by the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.

The international delegation includes representatives from Fiji, Finland, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Thousands of devotees took a holy dip at Triveni Sangam here on Thursday morning, the fourth day of the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh.

Over 6 crore devotees have participated in the world’s biggest religious congregation; over 3.5 crore on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on January 14. Meanwhile, given the massive influx of pilgrims, the Prayagraj administration has established an AI-based computerized lost and found centre.

Sharing details about the centre, Additional Mela Adhikari Vivek Chaturvedi told ANI, “An AI-based lost and found center has been set up. Arrangements are made there for accommodation, clothes and food for the people who are lost… There has not If there is a case in which we have not been able to reunite children or lost people with their relatives. reunite a person with his relatives, then the administration takes them to their home at its own expense.”

Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will continue until February 26. The next key bathing dates include January 29 (Mauni Amavasya – Second Shahi Snan), February 3 (Basant Panchami – Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).