New Delhi:
In the early hours of January 29, 2025, the sacred grounds of the Prayag Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, witnessed a tragic stampede that resulted in significant casualties and injuries, highlighting the longstanding issues of crowd management at this monumental Hindu festival. The incident occurred on the auspicious day of Mauni Amavasya, a time when millions of pilgrims converge to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has vehemently criticized the Yogi Adityanath government for its handling of the tragedy, accusing them of prioritizing publicity over the welfare and safety of the devotees. This criticism comes amidst a broader debate on the government’s ability to manage large-scale religious gatherings.
On January 29, 2025, a massive crowd surge during the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya led to a devastating stampede. With around 100 million people expected to attend, the festival grounds were overwhelmed, resulting in at least 30 deaths and over 60 injuries. The stampede began when a festival barrier broke, and pilgrims rushed forward to bathe at the sacred rivers, leading to chaos and loss of life.
The rapid influx of pilgrims caused barricades to collapse, trapping many devotees who were sleeping or sitting near the ghats. Eyewitnesses described the horror of being trampled by the surging crowd, with many elderly people and women being crushed in the melee. Despite the presence of extensive surveillance and crowd control measures, including hundreds of cameras and drones, the tragedy could not be averted.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site and met with injured devotees, but his response was criticized for being delayed. Akhilesh Yadav pointed out that the Chief Minister did not express grief over the deaths until after the President and Prime Minister had done so, suggesting a lack of urgency and empathy from the state government.
Akhilesh Yadav demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the tragedy and the arrangements in place, calling for a detailed report on the casualties to be submitted in Parliament. He alleged that the government was hiding the true number of deaths to avoid paying compensation to the families of the deceased. Yadav also suggested that the management of the Kumbh Mela should be handed over to the Indian Army to ensure better safety and organization.
The incident has prompted a three-member judicial panel to investigate the causes of the stampede and the response of the authorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in constant contact with the state government, ensuring immediate support measures are in place. The Rapid Action Force was deployed to manage the situation, and relief efforts are ongoing to identify and return the bodies of the deceased to their families.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the challenges of managing massive crowds at religious gatherings in India. As the Kumbh Mela continues, with several significant bathing dates still to come, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of the millions of devotees attending this sacred event.
