Booking in Prayagraj hotels after a stampede in Mahakumbh, 50 percent of the rooms left empty – after drops in bookings due to kumbh stampede hotels hopful of UPTick Post Basant Panchami Snan LCLK

After the stampede on the bathing of Mauni Amavasya on January 29 during Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, there has been a huge decline in the booking of hotels there. However, hotel owners hope that the booking will increase again after Basant Panchami bath.

Hotel businessmen are telling the passengers that now the situation is completely normal and they can be relaxed and can come to Mahakumbh. Many hotel owners themselves are motivated by contacting potential customers and motivating them to come.

There was a huge decline in hotel booking

Sardar Harjit Singh, president of Prayagraj Hotel and Restaurant Welfare Association, said, ‘Booking declined drastically after the January 29 incident, as many devotees could not reach their hotels. Now the situation has become normal, and we are appealing to the devotees to come after bathing Basant Panchami so that they do not face any difficulty.

Significantly, on January 29, at least 30 people were killed and more than 60 people were injured in a stampede on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. According to hotel businessmen, from 28 January to 30 January, many pilgrims were stopped at the city border, so that they could not reach their hotels. When the news of the stampede spread, a large number of people canceled their booking.

According to Harjeet Singh, ’40-50 percent of the hotel rooms were left empty due to stampede.’ Prayag in hotel owner Anil Kumar Gupta said that 25 percent of the booking in his hotel was canceled. He said, ‘We are requesting people to come after bathing Basant Panchami, because by then the movement of vehicles in the city will be normal.’

Increased concern among hotel businessmen

Gupta told that due to the stampede, many of his guests could neither come nor go on time. ‘We did not charge any fee for additional stoppage from those who were trapped in our hotel, because our rooms were lying vacant.

Harjeet Singh said that this incident has had a profound impact on the hotel industry of the city. ‘Our concern is not just about the booking to be canceled, but also of the passengers who had already paid but they could not reach here.’

He demanded better arrangements from the administration so that passengers could reach at least their hotels. He said, ‘It was impractical to ask women, children and heavy luggage to walk 15-20 km from the city border.

Panic increased due to rumors

Harjit Singh accused social media influencers and YouTubers of exaggerating the situation, which caused fear among the passengers. He said, “Many people were scared of rumors, but when we clarified the situation, many devotees withdrew the decision to cancel their booking.” However, hotel owners are confident that the situation will improve after Basant Panchami bath and the number of pilgrims will increase again.