HomeNewsAt least seven dead in stampede at MahaKumbh festival, official reports

At least seven dead in stampede at MahaKumbh festival, official reports

PRAYAGRAJ, India: At least seven people lost their lives, and around 10 others sustained injuries in a stampede at MahaKumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday, according to an official. The tragic incident occurred as tens of millions gathered for a holy dip on the most auspicious day of the six-week Hindu festival.

The stampede took place between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. (1930-2030 GMT Tuesday) near the ascetics’ arena, where barricades had been set up to control the crowd, said Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, where the festival city of Prayagraj is located.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X, mourning the loss of devotees but did not specify the number of fatalities. “The local administration is doing everything possible to assist the victims,” he stated. Adityanath assured that the situation was under control, though the crowd remained immense.

A senior state official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that “more than seven people have died in the stampede, and around 10 others are injured.”

Videos and images following the incident showed bodies being carried away on stretchers, while distressed devotees sat crying amid scattered belongings such as clothes, shoes, and blankets left behind in the chaos. A Reuters witness observed multiple fatalities and saw ambulances rushing towards the riverbank where the tragedy unfolded.

Eyewitnesses described a surge near the confluence of three sacred rivers, where taking a dip is considered especially holy, leading to people falling over each other. Chief Minister Adityanath urged devotees to avoid the area.

“We were trapped between barricades and the police. The push from behind was overwhelming, and people started falling,” recounted Vijay Kumar, a pilgrim from Patna. “There were people lying everywhere—I couldn’t tell if they were alive or dead.”

A woman told news agency ANI that she and her mother were trampled in the chaos. “I survived, but my mother did not,” she said.

A policeman escorts a devotee after a stampede before the second “Shahi Snan” at the Maha Kumbh Mela | Image source: Reuters

Also read | ‘India will do the right thing on immigrants’; Modi to visit US in Feb, says Donald Trump

Opposition criticizes mismanagement for the stampede at MahaKumbh

The Maha Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest religious gathering, expected to attract around 400 million people over its six weeks—significantly more than the 1.8 million attendees at the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia last year. By Tuesday, nearly 200 million people had already visited the 2025 festival since it began two weeks ago.

Devout Hindus believe that bathing at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers cleanses sins and grants liberation from the cycle of life and death. By 10 a.m. on Wednesday, officials reported that more than 36 million devotees had taken a holy dip.

Among the attendees were high-profile figures such as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, and international celebrities like Coldplay’s Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson, who reportedly arrived in Prayagraj on Tuesday. Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit the festival next month.

Authorities had anticipated a record turnout of 100 million people on Wednesday and deployed additional security, medical teams, and AI-based crowd management technology. A special police unit, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), was brought in to stabilize the situation and assist with rescue operations.

Opposition parties criticized the central and state governments, blaming the tragedy on “mismanagement” and the preferential treatment of VIPs.

“VIP culture must be curbed, and better arrangements should be made to serve ordinary devotees,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on X, referring to the privileges given to politicians and celebrities.

A similar tragedy occurred during the festival’s last edition in 2013, when a stampede on the most auspicious day resulted in the deaths of at least 36 pilgrims, most of them women.

For more such latest updates, click here.

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Recent Comments