🙏 Tragedy Strikes Maha Kumbh Mela: India Orders Probe Into Festival Stampede

In a heartbreaking event, a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in India has led to the loss of dozens of lives 😔. On Wednesday, millions of devotees had gathered to take a \"holy dip\" in the sacred river waters, but celebrations turned into chaos when the massive crowd surged.

Officials reported that at least 30 people were killed and 90 injured during the crush, but some sources suggest the death toll may be closer to 40.

Witnesses described a sudden push towards the rivers causing people to fall over each other. Others said that the closure of routes to the water led to a standstill, with many collapsing due to suffocation.

Uttar Pradesh state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial inquiry into the incident: \"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 told reporters.

The festival, which is the world's biggest gathering of humanity, saw more than 76 million people take a dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers in Prayagraj on Wednesday alone 🌊. Since it began two weeks ago, nearly 280 million people have attended, including prominent figures like federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities.

Devout Hindus believe that bathing at the meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers absolves them of sins and brings salvation from the cycle of birth and death.

Opposition leaders blamed the tragedy on mismanagement and called for improved festival arrangements. Local media echoed these concerns, with the Hindustan Times stating, \"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh.\"

As the festival continues, with three more 'royal dips'—considered particularly sacred—scheduled before it ends, there's a pressing need to enhance safety measures to prevent further tragedies.

Our hearts go out to the families affected by this devastating event ❤️. Let's hope for better safety and management in the coming weeks.