A day after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla idol at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Uttar Pradesh government has imposed an immediate ban on all incoming vehicles, including state roadways buses in view of an overwhelming surge of devotees on Tuesday.
Tuesday morning saw a sudden influx of pilgrims in Ayodhya, causing a chaotic situation and challenging the security arrangements in place. While some individuals sustained minor injuries due to overcrowding, there were no reports of serious harm.
The unexpected surge of devotees prompted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath late on Tuesday evening to assess the situation. Observing the massive crowd, the Chief Minister decided to restrict further pilgrim arrivals in Ayodhya.
A meeting was held on the situation in Ayodhya following which the authorities decided to impose a ban on all vehicles bound for Ayodhya for the next few days. All online bookings made for these vehicles have been cancelled, and refunds for bus fares of pilgrims are to be processed promptly.
The doors of the temple were opened on Tuesday morning for the general public after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on Monday.
The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation has also suspended all buses to Ayodhya due to the large number of visitors and unmanageable crowds in the city until further notice.
Officials said: “No passenger should be sent to Ayodhya right now. There is a problem in controlling the increasing crowd. Arrangements should be made to send people elsewhere from Ayodhya. There are no restrictions for travellers beyond Ayodhya.”
The 933 UPSRTC buses that were travelling directly or via Ayodhya have either been stalled or diverted, they added.
Moreover, the Ayodhya Dham Express fleet of 10 buses, or the Ram Raths that would take pilgrims directly to the Ram temple, are also stationed at the depots in Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Ballia and Prayagraj, waiting to be called to duty.
Eco Survey: Demographic advantage, responsible approach position India to benefit from AI
With AI research and development currently concentrated in the hands of a few, very large companies that control the resources to erect high entry barriers, AI adoption in place of humans presents the risk of concentrating the benefits of automation.
Prez Murmu faces ‘repeated’ insults from Congress: Sonia Gandhi’s comments fuel backlash
The BJP was quick to condemn the remarks, calling them “derogatory” and accusing the Congress of disrespecting the President. BJP leaders said that Congress’s “feudal mindset” cannot accept that a tribal woman like Droupadi Murmu achieved the position of President of India.
India's farm sector has clocked robust growth on the back of govt schemes: Economic Survey
The agriculture sector in India has shown robust growth in recent years, averaging 5 per cent annually from FY17 to FY23, demonstrating resilience despite challenges, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25.
India a bright spot in global manufacturing despite persistent geo-political tensions: Eco Survey
The global manufacturing landscape has undergone significant shifts over the past decade and India has been one of the dynamic economies that gained a greater presence in the space gradually vacated by developed countries.
Nadda strongly condemns Sonia Gandhi’s ‘poor thing’ remark for President Murmu
BJP President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda has strongly condemned senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s reference to President Droupadi Murmu as a "poor thing" while commenting on her address to Parliament.
India’s economy remains steady amidst global uncertainties: Economic Survey
India’s domestic economy remains steady amidst global uncertainties, driven by robust growth in the services sector, a rebound in agriculture, and the industrial sector picking up momentum on the back of rising private consumption, according to the Economic Survey tabled in Parliament on Friday.
Govt bullish on creating robust infra, private sector must reciprocate too: Eco Survey
The government has laid a special focus on infrastructure -- physical, digital and social -- in the last five years and those efforts would need to be supplemented with wholehearted acceptance of the need for public-private partnerships in infrastructure across the country, the Economic Survey 2024-25 said on Friday.
Forward-looking strategic trade roadmap to create more vibrant export sector: Eco Survey
The evolving global trade dynamics, marked by gradual shifts towards greater protectionism, require assessing the situation and developing a forward-looking strategic trade roadmap, the Economic Survey 2024-25, presented in the Parliament on Friday ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26, said.