PRAYAGRAJ – The Allahabad High Court has instructed the Mahakumbh administration in Prayagraj to draw lessons from the tragic stampede in Hathras last year, which resulted in the loss of 121 lives, and to ensure proper arrangements for the upcoming Mahakumbh.
While hearing a case related to the Hathras stampede, the court directed the then District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Hathras to personally appear before it on January 15 and explain why they should not be held accountable for the incident.
Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, presiding over the case, stated that such tragedies occur due to inadequate arrangements by event organizers. “The organizers invite innocent people for their benefit, but due to lack of proper arrangements, such incidents take place. It is the administration’s responsibility to ensure that there are adequate police forces, medical facilities, and other arrangements,” the court remarked.
Justice Yadav further pointed out, “In the past, we have seen many such incidents where lakhs of people gather at such events. Often, poor and illiterate people come out of faith and belief, and in moments of panic, people lose control, leading to untimely deaths in stampedes.”
During the hearing, the state government’s counsel revealed that the Hathras organizers had initially sought permission for a crowd of 80,000, but the actual number of attendees at the event had swelled to 2.5 lakh. On July 2, 2024, a stampede occurred during a “satsang” organized by Surajpal alias Bhole Baba’s followers in Fulrai Mughalgarhi village, Hathras district, claiming 121 lives and injuring many others. An FIR was registered based on the complaint of sub-inspector Brijesh Pandey, and during the investigation, the petitioner’s name came up.
In light of the Hathras tragedy, the court emphasized the need for the district and police authorities to learn from this incident and take adequate precautions for the upcoming Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, to prevent any similar mishaps.
The state government anticipates that 40 crore pilgrims from across the globe will visit the Mahakumbh in 2025 to take a holy dip at the Sangam, seeking salvation. The first significant bathing ritual, Paush Purnima, is scheduled for January 13, 2025, with the Mahakumbh continuing until Maha Shivratri on February 26, 2025.
The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for January 15, 2025.
