PRAYAGRAJ, India. A deadly stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of more than seven people and left around ten others injured, according to an official source. The incident occurred as tens of millions of Hindu devotees gathered in Prayagraj to take a holy dip on the most auspicious day of the six-week festival.
Drone footage captured an overwhelming sea of pilgrims arriving in the pre-dawn hours, moving shoulder to shoulder as they made their way toward the river. However, chaos erupted around 1 a.m. local time (1930 GMT) when an initial stampede broke out. While officials initially dismissed it as “not serious,” witnesses reported that panic spread when devotees trying to escape found exits blocked by authorities, leading to a second and more devastating stampede.
A Reuters journalist on the scene described seeing several dead bodies as ambulances rushed toward the riverbanks. Shocking images showed bodies being carried away on stretchers, while others sat weeping amid a chaotic landscape littered with discarded belongings.
“I saw many people falling and getting walked on by the crowd… many children and women getting lost, crying for help,” said a devotee named Ravin, who had traveled from Mumbai to attend the festival.
Authorities deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialized crisis response unit, to bring the situation under control and conduct rescue operations. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urging for “immediate support measures,” according to news agency ANI.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, regarded as the world’s largest religious gathering, had already drawn staggering numbers, with approximately 148 million attendees recorded in just two weeks. Devotees believe that bathing at the confluence of three rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—washes away sins and grants salvation from the cycle of rebirth.
This year’s festival holds exceptional significance due to a rare celestial alignment occurring after 144 years. Officials had anticipated a record 100 million people to participate in the holy dip on Wednesday, making crowd control a major challenge.
The festival attracts not only religious leaders but also high-profile figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, and international celebrities like Coldplay’s Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson, who reportedly arrived in Prayagraj on Tuesday. Prime Minister Modi is also expected to visit the festival next month.
Following the tragedy, ascetic leader Ravindra Puri announced the cancellation of the much-anticipated ‘royal bath’ of saints and seers. “All of our saints and seers were ready for the ‘snan’ (bath) when we were informed about this incident. That is why we have decided to call off our ‘snan’,” he stated.
Authorities had implemented numerous safety measures, including increased security, additional medical personnel, special transport arrangements, and AI-powered crowd management systems. However, this incident has raised concerns about the adequacy of such measures, particularly given the precedent set in 2013, when a stampede on the festival’s most auspicious day claimed at least 36 lives, mostly women.
As investigations into the cause of the stampede continue, officials have urged devotees to follow safety protocols and avoid overcrowding at the riverbanks. “All of you should follow the administration’s instructions and cooperate in making arrangements. People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam,” Adityanath reassured on messaging platform X.
With millions still expected to attend in the coming days, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure that history does not repeat itself at this sacred yet perilous event.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
