Tragedy Strikes at Prayagraj
A stampede at the Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela has resulted in the death of at least 30 devotees and injuries to many, with the death toll yet to be ascertained. The incident occurred as millions of pilgrims gathered for the holy bath on Mauni Amavasya. Rescue operations are underway, and the exact number of casualties is still being determined.
The Akharas have called off their traditional Amrit Snan, although large numbers of devotees continued to take dips at Sangam and other ghats in the Mela area. Officer on Special Duty Akanksha Rana reported, “Some people have been injured and hospitalized after a barrier broke at the Sangam. We are yet to determine the exact count of those injured.” The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, reviewed the situation in a call with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and called for immediate support measures.
The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and was expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims. This year’s event is particularly significant due to the rare celestial alignment called ‘Triveni Yog,’ occurring after 144 years.
Around 2 am, sirens of ambulances and police vehicles rushing to the Sangam disrupted the continuous chants of mantras and shlokas across the Kumbh Mela area. Those injured were taken to the central hospital established in the Mela area, with relatives of many injured also present, as well as some senior administrative and police officials.
Witnesses recounted harrowing experiences. Sarojini from Karnataka, weeping outside the hospital, said, “We were nine people in the group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled.” A man from Chhattarpur, Madhya Pradesh, said his mother was injured and hospitalized, while a middle-aged couple from Meghalaya described their struggle to escape the crowd.
Despite the incident, ordinary devotees continued their holy baths, but the Akharas decided to call off their traditional Amrit Snan. Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri stated, “You would’ve seen what happened in the morning. That’s why we have decided to call off our snan on Mauni Amavasya.”
The situation remains tense as the exact number of casualties is still being determined, and authorities continue rescue operations.
