In the early hours of Wednesday, a tragic stampede occurred at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, claiming the lives of thirty devotees and injuring sixty others, as reported by government officials. The incident took place on Akhara Marg, near the Triveni Sangam Ghat, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. during the auspicious event of Mauni Amavasya’s amrit snan.
Deputy Inspector General of Uttar Pradesh Police, Vaibhav Krishna, announced that twenty-five of the deceased have been identified, with efforts ongoing to confirm the identities of the remaining five victims. Among the deceased were individuals from other states, including four from Karnataka, and one each from Assam and Gujarat. Of the injured, thirty-six are receiving treatment at local hospitals while other injured individuals were taken home by their families shortly after the incident.
During the press conference, Krishna explained that the stampede was triggered by a surge in the crowd, leading to the collapse of barricades and a subsequent trampling of devotees waiting to participate in the ritual bathing. Despite the prompt response from the administration, which included organizing a rescue operation and transporting 90 individuals to medical facilities, the tragic outcome resulted in the loss of lives.
In light of the incident, the administration stated that there would be no VIP privileges for the Mauni Amavasya day or the upcoming auspicious day of Basant Panchami on February 2. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached out to religious leaders and saints, requesting them to postpone their amrit snan in the interest of public safety, which led to an agreement to delay the traditional bathing ceremonies.
Efforts were also made to establish a helpline (1920) to assist families in locating missing devotees. The lead-up to this tragic event saw the UP administration imposing restrictions on pontoon bridges to manage the expected crowd of around 10 crore visitors. However, VVIPs were permitted easier access to the bathing sites, leading to frustration among the general devotees who were redirected to more distant ghats.
As the evening approached, announcements signifying the start of the sacred timing intensified the movement of devotees toward Sangam. This led to clashes with police and administration as barricades impeded their progress. The resultant force from the crowd to overcome the barricades ultimately caused the stampede that led to the tragic loss of life.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences regarding the incident, stating it was a deeply saddening event. He communicated with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to monitor the situation and ensure that the state received adequate assistance from the central government.
In his response earlier in the day, CM Adityanath highlighted that the vast number of devotees present created significant pressure at the sites, which complicated the management of the situation. He urged people to avoid moving towards Sangam and instead suggested bathing at nearby Ganga ghats, while also advising against the spread of rumors concerning the incident.
