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Deadly Stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela: Dozens Killed as Millions Gather for Holy Dip
A pre-dawn stampede at the world’s largest religious gathering in Prayagraj has left dozens dead as millions rushed for a sacred dip. Opposition blames mismanagement while officials cite overcrowding as the cause.
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-29
Deadly Stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela: Dozens Killed as Millions Gather for Holy Dip

Prayagraj, India: A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of dozens of devotees, as tens of millions gathered at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers to take a holy dip on what is considered the festival’s most auspicious day.

The exact death toll remains unconfirmed, but police sources and a Reuters witness counted nearly 40 bodies at the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College hospital morgue more than 12 hours after the incident.

Chaos & Horror at the Holy Site

According to eyewitnesses, the stampede began when thousands surged forward to reach the riverbank. Some collapsed due to suffocation, while others were trampled as the crowd pushed ahead.

🗣 “There was commotion, everybody started pushing, pulling, climbing over one another. My mother collapsed… then my sister-in-law. People ran over them,” said Jagwanti Devi, 40, mourning the loss of her relatives.

Several witnesses and victims’ families have blamed authorities for the lack of proper crowd control.

🗣 “Police didn’t make proper arrangements. They are responsible for this,” wailed Saroja, who lost four family members in the tragedy.

Officials React as Political Blame Game Begins

🔹 Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims’ families but did not specify the number of casualties.

🔹 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the stampede occurred when some devotees tried to jump barricades.

🔹 Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi blamed the tragedy on “VIP culture”, urging authorities to ensure that common devotees are prioritized over politicians and celebrities.

Overcrowding & Lack of Crowd Management?

The Maha Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest religious gathering, with officials expecting over 400 million visitors this year.

By Tuesday:
✅ 200 million people had already visited the festival.
✅ On Wednesday alone, 57 million devotees had taken a holy dip by the afternoon.
✅ Authorities had deployed AI-based crowd monitoring and a special police unit (RAF) for crisis control.

Despite these measures, heavy traffic congestion, VIP movement, and unexpected surges contributed to the chaos.

A Repeat of Past Tragedies?

This disaster echoes the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela stampede, where 36 pilgrims lost their lives under similar circumstances.

Authorities have promised an investigation, but for grieving families, the pain of losing loved ones overshadows any official assurances.
Tagged:

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KumbhMela

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