🇮🇳 In a tragic turn of events, India has ordered an investigation into the deadly stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival that claimed the lives of dozens of devotees. On Wednesday, as millions gathered for a 'holy dip' in the sacred river waters, chaos ensued, leading to one of the most devastating incidents in the festival's history.
Police reports confirm that at least 30 people were killed and 90 injured in the crush at what is known as the world's largest human gathering. However, sources hint that the death toll might be closer to 40. Witnesses described a sudden surge towards the rivers, causing people to tumble over each other. Others blamed the closure of routes to the water, which brought the massive crowd to a standstill, leading to suffocation and collapse.
Uttar Pradesh state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the media late on Wednesday, stating, \"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done. For this, we have formed a three-member judicial commission. The commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit.\" 🕊️
The numbers are staggering. More than 76 million people took a dip at the confluence of the three sacred rivers in Prayagraj on Wednesday alone. Since the festival kicked off two weeks ago, nearly 280 million devotees have attended, including prominent figures like federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities. 🌊🌟
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is a significant event in the Hindu calendar. Devotees believe that bathing at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers absolves them of sins and frees them from the cycle of birth and death. The next festival in 2025 is expected to draw an estimated 400 million people! 😮
Opposition leaders are pointing fingers at what they call mismanagement, urging the government to step up festival arrangements. Local media echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for better crowd planning to prevent future tragedies. The Hindustan Times editorialized, \"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh. There is no doubt that more personnel have to be deployed, and better planning is needed – using both ground resources and modern technology.\"
As the festival continues, with three more 'royal dips' scheduled in the coming weeks, the focus is now on ensuring the safety of the millions who will participate. While devotees take holy dips every day, certain dates are considered especially sacred, drawing even larger crowds.
Our hearts go out to all affected by this tragedy. Let's hope that the investigation leads to meaningful changes to keep everyone safe during these spiritual celebrations. 🙏✨
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
