A tragic stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in the ancient city of Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) claimed the lives of 30 people on Wednesday. Authorities initially delayed confirming the casualties, but senior police officer Vibhu Krishna announced during a press conference in the evening that 90 injured individuals had been hospitalized, with 30 succumbing to their injuries. Of these, 25 victims have been identified so far.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, mourning the loss of pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh but did not specify the number of fatalities. Meanwhile, a health department official told BBC Hindi that 12 people had died in the stampede. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official claimed to have seen multiple bodies at the scene.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, attracts millions of devotees. This year’s event began on January 13 and is scheduled to last for six weeks. Pilgrims from around the world gather to take a holy dip at the Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, as per Hindu belief.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the stampede occurred between 1 and 2 a.m. when some devotees attempted to bypass police barricades to reach the Sangam. He assured that the situation was under control and urged against spreading unverified reports.
Survivors and eyewitnesses have criticized the event’s administration. Umesh Agrawal, a Delhi resident, told the BBC that he saw people sleeping near the barricades, causing others to trip and fall, which led to the chaos. Vidyasagar Sahoo, who traveled from Belgium with a group of 60, reported that five of her companions were missing. Another attendee from Madhya Pradesh said his mother was injured in the stampede but found no police or assistance available.
Relatives of the missing were seen searching for their loved ones in the mela grounds. Anita Devi from Jhansi recounted how her husband’s hand slipped from hers during the chaos, and he disappeared in an instant. She expressed hope for his safety as she continued her search.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism of the government and event organizers. Prominent Hindu religious leader Prem Anand Puri accused the administration of prioritizing VIPs over ordinary pilgrims. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also blamed the tragedy on mismanagement.
The Maha Kumbh Mela holds immense significance for Hindus and is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The festival is rooted in the mythological tale of the battle between gods and demons over the pot of nectar (amrit).
Stampedes have become increasingly common in India during large religious gatherings. Last month, six people died in a stampede in Andhra Pradesh, while in 2024, 120 people lost their lives during a religious event in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district. Government data reveals that 47 stampede incidents occurred across the country in 2021 and 2022.
Such tragedies often result from poor planning, inadequate crowd control measures, and a lack of accountability following accidents. The combination of massive crowds during religious festivals and insufficient safety protocols continues to pose significant risks.
