Tragedy struck during the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival as a massive stampede claimed the lives of dozens of devotees on Wednesday. As millions gathered for a \"holy dip\" in the sacred river waters, the world's largest human gathering faced chaos and tragedy.
Indian authorities have initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the formation of a three-member judicial commission to uncover the causes behind the deadly crush. \"The judicial commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit,\" he stated.
According to police, 30 people lost their lives, and 90 were injured in the stampede. However, sources from Reuters suggest the death toll is closer to 40. Witnesses described a frantic push towards the rivers, leading to people falling and suffocating as crowd control measures failed.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, attracts millions seeking spiritual purification by bathing at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. This year, over 76 million people participated in the event by Wednesday alone, with an estimated 280 million attending since its inception two weeks ago.
Officials anticipate that the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela could draw up to 400 million devotees, overshadowing events like the Haj pilgrimage, which saw 1.8 million attendees last year.
In the wake of the tragedy, opposition leaders have criticized the government's handling of the festival, citing poor crowd management as a key factor. Local media echo these sentiments, emphasizing the need for improved planning and the deployment of additional personnel and modern technology to prevent future incidents.
The Hindustan Times highlighted the urgency for better crowd control measures in an editorial, urging authorities to implement comprehensive safety strategies for the remaining 'royal dips' scheduled in the coming weeks.
As the Maha Kumbh Mela continues, organizers and officials are under immense pressure to ensure the safety of millions of devotees participating in this revered spiritual tradition.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
