Stampede Breaks out at Maha Kumbh, Casualties Feared

Several people were feared dead after a “stampede-like” situation broke out at the Kumbh Mela in the early hours of Wednesday news as news agency PTI reported. The incident occurred after many pilgrims gathered for a holy bath on the sacred day of Mauni Amavasya.

The injured were swiftly transported to the central hospital set up in the Mela area. Relatives of the wounded, along with senior administrative and police officials, arrived at the scene. “Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised after a barrier broke at the Sangam. We are yet to have the exact count of those injured,” PTI quoted Akanksha Rana, an officer on special duty at the mela, as saying.

The Amrit Snan or the ‘holy bath’ on Mauni Amavasya is considered to be one of the most significant rituals at the Maha Kumbh and is likely to draw around 10 crore pilgrims. Adding to the spiritual significance of this year’s event is the rare celestial alignment known as ‘Triveni Yog,’ occurring after 144 years.

Anticipating a huge influx of people on this occasion, the mela authorities issued an advisory on Tuesday, urging devotees to adhere to crowd-management protocols for their safety and convenience.

The guidelines instructed pilgrims to use designated lanes to the Sangam Ghat and maintain queues while approaching the bathing area. They were also advised to avoid roaming around at the ghats after taking the holy dip and urged to immediately proceed to the parking areas or their destinations to facilitate smooth movement.

The stampede on Wednesday occurred as massive crowds thronged the Sangam and other ghats, which span a 12-km-long riverbank for the Maha Kumbh.

The Triveni Sangam—where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers converge—is regarded as one of the holiest sites in Hinduism. It is believed that taking a dip in these sacred waters during the Maha Kumbh, especially on auspicious days like Mauni Amavasya, cleanses one of the sins and grants ‘moksha’ or salvation.

Soon after the stampede, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to assess the situation and call for immediate measures.