Prayagraj, Jan. 31 -- A day after at least 30 people were killed in a predawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh, the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday enforced stricter measures for better crowd management and safety of devotees as it restricted vehicular movement, cancelled VIP passes, increased security deployment, and ended needless restrictions on the pontoon bridges that connect the mela city.

Officials familiar with the mattersaid that the Maha Kumbh area will be a "no-vehicle zone" till February 4, a day after the conclusion of the next "Amrit Snan" on Basant Panchami, during which millions of people are expected to congregate at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. Before the directive, vehicles with valid passes were allowed to t...