Authorities in Prayagraj have intensified their crackdown on misinformation related to the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Vaibhav Krishna informed that 13 FIRs have been filed against 140 social media accounts, charged with the dissemination of false information with regard to the religious congregation.
“Thirteen FIRs have been registered against 140 social media handles that shared misleading content,” Krishna told ANI. He further noted that despite such efforts to propagate falsehoods, the festival continues to draw an incredible number of participants, as millions of devotees take part in the sacred ceremony.
Crackdown on Fake News for the Train Fire Case.
In a related development, the police had earlier taken action against 34 social media accounts for spreading false claims regarding a train fire. A false viral video claimed that 300 people had been killed in a fire that took place on a train going to Maha Kumbh on 14th February.
Nevertheless, police inquiry found that the footage was derived from a train fire incident in Bangladesh in 2022 in which the Parbat Express caught fire on the railway line Dhaka-Sylhet. The authorities urged the public to verify information before sharing and warned of stringent action against those spreading rumors.
Security and Crowd Management for Maha Shivratri
With the Maha Shivratri festival being scheduled for February 26, 2025, preparations are in full swing with a plan to deal with the huge number of devotees that are expected. DIG Krishna also committed that all the required facilities have been made available to maintain a steady flow of operations with minimal interruptions.
Arrangements are in place for the forthcoming Shivratri festival. The traffic jam problem in Mahakumbh area would be addressed by giving an equal effort to so that there is no traffic congestion in any place in Mahakumbh area. Everybody should be going smoothly and no matter how many people there are we are well prepared,” he said.
On the other hand, strict crowd control measures have been taken at AYODHYA DHAM Railway Station to effect ample pilgrims. As Maha Shivratri is a significant day for devotees, security personnel are on the job to keep the peace and ensure safety.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Yashwant Singh explained the steps taken at the railway station as, “We have made extra vigilance before the ‘snan’ of Mahakumbh ‘avanavarta’ on Maha Shivratri. Additional security has been deployed here, bringing the total number of personnel deployed to more than 350. Barricading has been done all around, and a holding area has been set up to manage the influx of passengers.”.
Singh went on to describe the crowd control plan, noting that access to the platform would only be provided with the arrival of the train in order to prevent the platform from being overcrowded. “We are making regular announcements about train schedules to keep passengers informed. We are making sure that there is no overload of the platform. All arrangements are in place,” he added.
Massive Turnout at Maha Kumbh Mela
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has also confessed that the unprecedented number of devotees, which is more than 60 crore, has come to participate in the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj. Chief Minister further pointed out that the meticulous planning and execution by the government have enabled effective management of the huge crowd sizes.
Having millions of devotees still going in, the administration is not taking any chance in maintaining their safety and ease of access. Several check posts, medical services, and rapid response teams have been set up at strategic areas to deal with all emergencies.
Authorities Urge Public to Stay Vigilant
As information on Maha Kumbh Mela becomes more and more contaminated with misinformation, organisations are putting the word out urging the public to follow official sources for information on the Maha Kumbh Mela. Police have also designated helplines and information centers for the welfare of the devotees and to address their worries, etc.
Based on which, Prayagraj Police have also made it loud and clear that stringent action would be taken against the persons trying to spread panic through fake news. Please verify the news from governmental source before seeing it or sharing it” . Legal actions shall be taken against the persons spreading fake news,” DIG Krishna reiterated.
With the Maha Kumbh mela going on, the authorities have maintained an enhanced alert and all efforts have been made by them to ensure that devotees are able to not only participate in the spiritual congregation safely and unscathed but also without any hampering of the congregation. With stringent security measures, crowd management strategies, and continuous monitoring of social media, the administration is committed to maintaining peace and order throughout the event.
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