A stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least seven people and left around 10 others injured, according to officials. The tragic incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered for the most significant day of the six-week Hindu festival, where they traditionally take a holy dip in the river, reports Reuters.
Drone footage captured the massive crowd of people, tightly packed and arriving before dawn at the temporary township in Prayagraj, all seeking to participate in the ritual. Following the chaos, disturbing images and videos showed the aftermath, with bodies being carried away on stretchers and others sitting on the ground, visibly distressed. A sea of discarded items was left behind as people scrambled to escape the stampede.
A Reuters witness reported seeing several lifeless bodies and noted the frantic rush of ambulances headed toward the riverbank where the incident unfolded. An official, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on media communication, confirmed the death toll and the injuries sustained in the tragedy.
A stampede-like incident at the Sangam in Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya has left several injured. The incident unfolded as a massive influx of pilgrims converged for the holy Amrit Snan on this auspicious day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to discuss the situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela post-stampede situation. He assessed the latest developments and urged swift action to provide necessary assistance.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reached out to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after a stampede-like incident occurred at the Sangam during the Mauni Amavasya celebrations at the Maha Kumbh Mela. Shah assured the Chief Minister of the Centre’s full support in managing the situation.
Barrier Collapse Triggers Panic
According to officials, the situation arose in the early hours of Wednesday when a barrier broke at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Akanksha Rana, Officer on Special Duty for the Mela, confirmed, “Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised. We are still awaiting the exact count of the injured.”
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the dense crowd surged forward, leaving several devotees trapped and injured.
Akharas call off ‘Amrit Snan’
A stampede-like incident at the Sangam during the Maha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday morning has resulted in multiple casualties and numerous injuries. In response to the chaos, the Akharas have decided to cancel their traditional ‘Amrit Snan’ ceremony for Mauni Amavasya. This ritual, considered the most important of the Maha Kumbh Mela, typically attracts around 10 crore pilgrims.
Eyewitness Accounts
Sarojini, a pilgrim from Karnataka, recounted the harrowing experience outside the hospital, tears streaming down her face. “We came in a batch of 60 people. Suddenly, there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down, and the crowd went uncontrolled. There was no chance for escape,” she said.
An eyewitness reported, “We called the CRPF and the police a long time ago, but no one has arrived yet. It’s been half an hour, and we had to take our person to the hospital ourselves…”
The injured were rushed to the central hospital set up in the Mela area, with senior administrative and police officials present to oversee the situation. Relatives of the injured also flocked to the hospital in search of their loved ones.
Spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur explained, “I chose not to go to the Sangam Ghat due to the overwhelming size of the crowds. I urge people not to insist on bathing only at the Sangam Ghat. Right now, the entire Ganga and Yamuna rivers are filled with ‘Amrit’.”
Mauni Amavasya, a significant day in Hindu tradition, marks the peak of the Maha Kumbh festivities. This year, the event holds even greater spiritual significance due to the ‘Triveni Yog,’ a rare celestial alignment happening after 144 years. Over 10 crore pilgrims are expected to participate in the holy bath, believing it will cleanse their sins and lead to salvation or ‘moksha.’
Authorities Issue Safety Guidelines
Anticipating the massive turnout, the Mela authorities issued an advisory on Tuesday urging pilgrims to follow crowd-management protocols. Devotees were instructed to:
- Use designated lanes to approach the Sangam Ghat.
- Avoid lingering at the ghats after their holy dip.
- Proceed promptly to parking areas or destinations after bathing.
The administration emphasised that “all ghats at Sangam are equally sacred” to prevent overcrowding at the main bathing area. Despite these measures, the sheer scale of the gathering posed significant challenges.