Indian authorities have launched a probe into a devastating stampede that occurred at the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival on Wednesday. The incident claimed the lives of dozens of devotees and left many more injured as millions gathered for a sacred \"holy dip\" in the river waters. 🕊️
Officials reported that at least 30 people lost their lives and over 90 were injured in what is known as the world's largest human gathering. Some sources, however, suggest the death toll may be closer to 40.
Witnesses described a sudden rush towards the rivers, causing people to fall and get trampled. Others mentioned that the closure of routes to the water led to overcrowding, leaving individuals suffocating in the dense crowd.
\"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done,\" announced Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. \"We have formed a three-member judicial commission that will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit.\"
Despite the tragedy, over 76 million people took a dip at the confluence of the three sacred rivers—the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati—in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, by 8 p.m. on Wednesday alone! That's like the entire population of a country taking a swim together! 🌊
Since the festival began two weeks ago, nearly 280 million people have attended, including federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities. The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is expected to draw around 400 million devotees in 2025. To put that into perspective, last year's Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia saw 1.8 million participants.
For devout Hindus, taking a dip at the confluence of these rivers is believed to cleanse one's sins and bring salvation from the cycle of birth and death. ✨
Opposition leaders are pointing fingers at mismanagement and are urging the government to improve festival arrangements. Local media also emphasized the need for better crowd planning to prevent such incidents in the future.
\"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,\" stated an editorial in the Hindustan Times. \"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'—considered particularly sacred—scheduled before the festival ends, there's an urgent need to ensure safety measures are in place to prevent another tragedy.
Our hearts go out to all affected by this incident. ❤️ Let's hope for better arrangements in the coming weeks to keep everyone safe during this significant spiritual event.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
