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Akhilesh Yadav Seeks Extension of Maha Kumbh Amid Overwhelming Devotee Influx

Massive Crowds, Traffic Congestion Raise Concerns as Maha Kumbh Nears End

February 15, 2025: New Delhi: As millions continue to flock to the Maha Kumbh Mela, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has urged the Uttar Pradesh government to extend the event’s duration. He cited the overwhelming number of devotees still trying to reach the holy site, stating that the current schedule is shorter than previous editions, which lasted 75 days.

Also Read: New Traffic Restrictions in Prayagraj Ahead of Maha Kumbh’s Next Big Snan

“Even now, many people want to go to Maha Kumbh but cannot. In such a situation, the government should extend the time limit of Maha Kumbh,” said Akhilesh Yadav.

📌 Unprecedented Crowd Surge at Maha Kumbh

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📍 Maha Kumbh 2025 began on January 13 and is scheduled to conclude on February 26, coinciding with Maha Shivaratri.
📍 Over 50 crore devotees have already taken a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj – more than the combined population of the US and Russia.
📍 On February 14 alone, over 92 lakh devotees participated in the ritual.

Also Read: Watch: Passengers Occupy Train Engine Amid Maha Kumbh Travel Chaos

Visuals from social media and news channels show:
✔ Trains and roads jam-packed with pilgrims.
✔ Prayagraj Sangam railway station temporarily shut down due to an overwhelming crowd.
✔ Kilometers-long traffic snarls leading to the holy city.

⚠️ Stampede Concerns & Government Response

Also Read: World’s Longest Jam! 300-Km Traffic Jam at Maha Kumbh 2025: Devotees Stranded for 48 Hours

📌 Akhilesh Yadav accused the state government of “hiding the true number of deaths” from a stampede last month at the Maha Kumbh.
📌 The UP government has yet to officially respond to the extension request but has acknowledged the record-breaking turnout.

With devotees still arriving in massive numbers, the call for an extension could add pressure on the state authorities. Whether the Yogi Adityanath-led government will act on this request remains to be seen.