PRAYAGRAJ: A tragic stampede on Akhara Marg early Wednesday claimed the lives of at least 30 pilgrims and left over 60 injured as massive crowds surged toward the Sangam for a sacred dip during Mauni Amavasya, the most auspicious bathing day of the 45-day Maha Kumbh. The chaos erupted when barricades collapsed under the pressure of eager devotees, triggering an hour-long panic.
The disaster marked a severe crowd management crisis, with over 12 crore pilgrims flooding the Kumbh area over the past two days. By late Tuesday, nearly 5.5 crore had already taken a dip, and the numbers continued to swell through the night.
Witnesses reported that some pilgrims attempted to climb over barricades in their rush to reach the Sangam, causing them to give way. This led to a sudden stampede as those behind pushed forward, trampling people who were seated or lying on the ground, waiting for Brahma Muhurta—the sacred moment before dawn.
As sirens blared through the night, rescue teams and security personnel scrambled to evacuate the injured. The scene was littered with abandoned blankets, bags, and footwear.
Among the deceased was 50-year-old Hukum Bai Lodhi from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district. Her 20-year-old daughter, critically injured, was rushed to a hospital. Their group of 14 had traveled 400 km for the pilgrimage. Similarly, four of the victims were from Karnataka’s Belagavi. Sarojini, one of the survivors, described the horror: “We were waiting for our turn when a wave of people suddenly crushed everyone to the ground. I don’t know how I survived.”
Government Response and Probes Ordered
Authorities initially withheld the casualty figures to prevent further panic among the vast congregation. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached the site within an hour and monitored the situation overnight. Overcome with emotion, he confirmed the death toll at 30 and announced an ex gratia of ₹25 lakh for each victim’s family.
A judicial inquiry, led by former High Court judge Harsh Kumar, along with retired IPS officer V.K. Gupta and ex-IAS officer B.K. Singh, was launched. A separate police investigation is also underway.
“What happened here is heartbreaking and a lesson for us all. Despite extensive preparations, this tragedy occurred, and we must understand why,” Adityanath stated. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi called four times to check on rescue efforts. I urge devotees not to believe in rumors.”
Kumbh Continues Amid Mourning
Initially, the Akhara Parishad announced the cancellation of the second Amrit Snan, but after discussions with the CM, all 13 akharas proceeded with their ritual dip at 2:30 PM instead of the scheduled 5 AM.
Despite the tragedy, pilgrims remained undeterred. By 8:30 PM on Wednesday, over 7.6 crore people had taken the sacred dip. Within 16 days, the Maha Kumbh had already seen a record-breaking 27.6 crore visitors, surpassing the 2019 footfall of 24 crore.
Authorities implemented new crowd-control measures, diverting vehicles far from the city and routing pilgrims through longer paths to prevent congestion. However, devotees braved long walks to reach the ghats. Roads leading to the mela ground, including Civil Lines, Katra Shivkuti, Kydganj, Mutthiganj, and Bahadurganj, were packed with worshippers, forming an unbroken human tide.
DIG Vaibhav Krishna confirmed that emergency teams moved the injured to multiple hospitals, where 30 were pronounced dead. Of the victims, 25 have been identified, including individuals from Assam and Gujarat.
To support relief efforts, authorities launched a helpline (1920) and reinforced hospitals with additional medical staff. Addressing concerns about VIP movement impacting crowd control, Krishna assured, “No VIP vehicles were allowed inside the area to ensure an uninterrupted pilgrimage for the public.”
Mela officer Vijay Kiran Anand reiterated that this policy would remain in effect for the upcoming Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami.
With the Maha Kumbh witnessing an unprecedented turnout, officials remain on high alert to prevent further mishaps as the festival continues.
