A devastating stampede at the Maha Kumbh in the Sangam area on Wednesday claimed several lives and left many injured as millions of devotees gathered to take a holy dip on the spiritually significant occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The incident, which took place between 1 am and 2 am, was triggered when some devotees climbed over barricades at Akhara Marg, leading to chaos and panic.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident, announcing a compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of the deceased. The government has also ordered a judicial probe into the stampede to investigate the cause and suggest measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
This year’s Kumbh saw an even larger influx of pilgrims due to a rare celestial alignment, ‘Triveni Yog,’ occurring after 144 years. Officials estimate that around 10 crore devotees gathered for the ‘Amrit Snan,’ which further intensified the pressure on crowd management. The stampede broke out during the early hours, with the sacred bathing ritual at Triveni Sangam turning chaotic.
Despite the tragedy, the bathing ritual of saints and seers from all 13 akharas commenced in the afternoon, following stringent crowd control measures. The ritual, originally scheduled for ‘Brahma Muhurat,’ was postponed and concluded by 7:30 pm.
As per tradition, Sanyasi akharas, including Mahanirvani, Atal, and Juna, took the lead, followed by the Bairagi sect’s akharas, including Panch Nirvani Ani and Panch Nirmohi Ani. Saints from the Udaseen sect, including Naya Udaseen and Bada Udaseen, performed the final leg of the ritual.
The state government’s swift announcement of a judicial probe underscores its intent to uncover any lapses in crowd management and security arrangements. Meanwhile, Akanksha Rana, the special executive officer overseeing the festival, stated that additional barricades and safety protocols are being reviewed to prevent further incidents.
