Following the tragic stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela, bookings in Prayagraj’s hotels were shot down but owners say they are hopeful of a pick-up after the celebration of Basant Panchami ‘snan’ (holy dip). However, many hoteliers are reaching out to potential guests and assuring them that the situation has normalized and it is safe for the Mahakumbh to be visited after the final Amrit Snan is conducted on Basant Panchami, Monday.
But the president of Prayagraj Hotel and Restaurant Welfare Association Sardar Harjeet Singh is concerned about the decline in reservations, but he is hopeful for an upturn. “Prior to the January 29 incident, the bookings were already slow; but after the January 29 incident, they plummeted as many visitors were no longer able to reach their hotels. The situation is now stable, we are encouraging devotees to plan their visit to it after Basant Panchami and there would be no confusion at all,” he added.
A devastating stampede on Mauni Amavasya, the most auspicious bathing day of the Mahakumbh Mela led a decline in hotel occupancy with at least 30 people killed and over 60 injured. Authorities then limited the movement of the city and stopped several pilgrims when they reached Prayagraj’s borders from January 28 to January 30, to prevent them from reaching their accommodation.
An increase in the number of cancellations resulted in a large decrease in hotel occupancy in the wake of the incident. Then Singh added that around 40-50 percent of rooms were vacant because they had been canceled.
However, hotel owners are hopeful that things will start to improve after the tide eases off on Basant Panchami. In an attempt to rebuild the faith of visitors during this Mahakumbh, these are actively reassuring pilgrims that pilgrims will be safe and comfortable during their stay.
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