Tragedy strikes Maha Kumbh as stampede claims at least seven lives

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

At least seven people were killed and dozens more injured in a stampede during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday, (local time), January 29.

The incident occurred when barricades broke, causing panic among the large crowd of devotees gathered for the Mauni Amavasya holy dip.

As many as 30 women were reported injured and are receiving treatment at the central hospital set up in the Mela area. Some of the more seriously injured were transferred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College.

In response to the situation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged devotees to follow the administration’s guidelines and avoid overcrowding. He appealed to them to bathe at nearby Ganga ghats rather than heading towards the ‘Sangam Nose’ area, which saw the most chaos.

The CM emphasized not paying attention to rumors and cooperating with authorities to maintain order and safety.

The incident occurred amid a massive turnout of pilgrims for the ‘Amrit Snan’ on Mauni Amavasya, which is considered highly significant due to the rare ‘Triveni Yog’ celestial alignment.

Over 10 crore (100 million) people were expected for the ritual. Following the stampede, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda assured full support, including additional health services and volunteers, to manage the situation effectively.

A crowd diversion plan was implemented, halting the entry of devotees into the city. The Akharas also temporarily postponed their events. The situation highlights the immense scale of the Kumbh Mela and the challenges in managing such large crowds.

(Photo: IANS/Amarjeet Kumar Singh)