India is mourning after a tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela festival left dozens of devotees dead and many more injured. 🙏💔
On Wednesday, as millions gathered for a \"holy dip\" in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, chaos erupted. Officials report that at least 30 people were killed and 90 injured, though some sources suggest the death toll may be as high as 40.
Eyewitnesses describe a massive push towards the rivers, with some people falling and others suffocating as the dense crowd came to a standstill. The closure of routes to the water may have contributed to the tragic crush.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial inquiry into the incident. \"We have formed a three-member judicial commission,\" he told reporters. \"The commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit.\"
The Maha Kumbh Mela, often called the world's largest human gathering, has seen nearly 280 million attendees since it began two weeks ago. On Wednesday alone, over 76 million people took the holy dip. 🌊✨
Devout Hindus believe that bathing at the confluence of the sacred rivers absolves them of sins and grants salvation from the cycle of birth and death. The festival, held every 12 years, is expected to draw an estimated 400 million devotees in 2025! 😮
Opposition leaders are pointing fingers at mismanagement, urging the government to improve festival arrangements. Local media echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for better crowd planning to prevent future tragedies.
\"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,\" noted an editorial in the Hindustan Times. With three more 'royal dips'—considered particularly sacred—scheduled before the festival ends, there's a pressing need to ensure the safety of millions of pilgrims.
Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. ❤️ Let's hope for safer celebrations in the weeks to come.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
