India is reeling after a tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival claimed the lives of dozens of devotees. 😔 On Wednesday, millions gathered for a \"holy dip\" in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, marking a significant day in the six-week-long event.
Authorities reported that at least 30 people lost their lives and around 90 were injured in the crush. However, some sources suggest the death toll might be closer to 40. The chaos erupted as massive crowds surged towards the rivers, with some witnesses describing how people fell on each other, while others collapsed due to suffocation as routes to the water became congested.
In response, Uttar Pradesh state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced, \"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done. For this, we have formed a three-member judicial commission.\" He emphasized that the commission will investigate the incident thoroughly and report back to the state government promptly.
Despite the tragedy, the festival saw an overwhelming turnout. By 8 p.m. on Wednesday alone, over 76 million people had taken a dip in the holy waters! 🌊 Since the festival began two weeks ago, nearly 280 million attendees, including federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities, have flocked to the event.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is expected to draw a staggering 400 million devotees in 2025. To put that into perspective, last year's Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia drew 1.8 million people.
For devout Hindus, taking a dip at the confluence of these sacred rivers is believed to cleanse them of sins and offer salvation from the cycle of birth and death. ✨
Opposition leaders have criticized the government's management of the festival, urging for better arrangements to prevent such incidents. Local media echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for improved crowd planning.
\"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,\" the Hindustan Times noted. \"There is no doubt that more personnel have to be deployed, and better planning is needed – using both ground resources and modern technology.\"
With three more 'royal dips' scheduled in the coming weeks before the festival ends, there's a pressing need to enhance safety measures. While devotees take holy dips every day, certain dates are considered particularly sacred, attracting even larger crowds.
As the nation mourns this heartbreaking incident, there's a collective hope that lessons will be learned to prevent future tragedies. 💔🙏🏽
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
