Tragedy struck at one of the world's largest gatherings 😔 as a stampede at India's Maha Kumbh Mela festival claimed the lives of dozens of devotees on Wednesday. Millions had flocked to the sacred rivers for a \"holy dip\" during the six-week event, but the sheer volume of pilgrims led to a devastating crush.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as crowds surged towards the water. Some blamed the closure of certain routes, which caused a bottleneck and left people struggling to breathe in the dense crowd. \"It was so packed, people started falling over each other,\" one devotee recounted.
In response to the tragedy, Uttar Pradesh state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a three-member judicial commission to investigate the incident. \"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done,\" he stated. \"The commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report within a time limit.\"
Despite the horrific event, officials reported that over 76 million people took the sacred dip on Wednesday alone 🌊. Since the festival began two weeks ago, nearly 280 million have participated, with numbers expected to soar even higher in the coming years. The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is anticipated to draw around 400 million devotees in 2025!
For many Hindus, bathing at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers is a deeply spiritual act believed to cleanse sins and break the cycle of rebirth. This profound faith draws pilgrims from all walks of life, including politicians, industrialists, and celebrities.
The incident has sparked criticism from opposition leaders, who blame mismanagement for the tragedy. Local media echoed these sentiments, calling for better crowd planning to prevent future disasters. With three more 'royal dips' scheduled before the festival concludes, there's a growing demand for improved safety measures to protect the millions who gather in pursuit of spiritual liberation.
\"There's much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,\" noted a local editorial. \"More personnel need to be deployed, and better planning is essential—utilizing both ground resources and modern technology.\"
As the festival continues, the hope is that authorities will heed these calls for action, ensuring that future gatherings remain a safe space for spiritual devotion rather than scenes of heartbreak 💔.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
