Allahabad: Pilgrims who had flocked to the Kumbh-2019 on the last shahi snan had to walk for miles to board buses at depots after 500 Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses were stopped at Andawa, Leprosy Crossing and Hindu Hostel Crossing on Sunday.The third and the last shahi snan of Kumbh-2019 was observed on Basant Panchami, which was celebrated on Sunday.The 500 shuttle buses which were being plied by UPSRTC for the Kumbh Mela were not allowed to proceed beyond Andawa, Leprosy Crossing and Hindu Hostel Crossing. As a result, devotees had to walk around 10-15 km from Sangam to catch buses while going back. As per the Mela administration’s plans, passengers were to be ferried from the bus depots to the parking slots nearest to Sangam in these 500 shuttle buses. However, due to the influx of pilgrims for the shahi snan, the shuttle buses were not pressed into service. A BA student from Gorakhpur University, Sujeet Kumar, said, “The 10-kilometre walk from Sangam to Civil Lines was very exhausting. Plus, there were no three-wheelers or e-rickshaws for pilgrims. I have been waiting for a bus since the past one hour with my family to go back to Gorakhpur.”Given the heavy rush, police put up additional barricades across the city to regulate traffic movement.The barricades put up on all roads leading up to the Sangam in areas like Civil Lines and Johnstonganj also hampered traffic movement.Though UPSRTC had made arrangements for plying 2,500 long-route buses, devotees returning from Sangam in the evening had to wait for hours to board a bus at the Civil Lines bus depot because of the rush of pilgrims. SP (traffic) Kuldeep Singh said, “The traffic restrictions were enforced on all roads leading up to the Sangam to avoid stampedes at the Kumbh Mela ground, in wake of the huge rush of devotees. The diversions and restrictions will be eased as pilgrims go back.”

Stay updated with all the Allahabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.