Tragedy struck at the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival in India as a stampede resulted in the loss of dozens of lives. The world's largest human gathering saw millions of devotees taking a 'holy dip' in the sacred river waters over the six-week event.
Indian authorities have initiated a probe into the incident that occurred on Wednesday, where police reported 30 fatalities and 90 injuries. However, sources cited by Reuters suggest the death toll may be nearly 40.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene with massive crowds pushing towards the rivers, leading to falls and suffocation as routes to the water were suddenly closed.
\"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done. For this, we have formed a three-member judicial commission,\" said Uttar Pradesh state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Over 76 million people participated in the 'holy dip' in Prayagraj alone on Wednesday, with the event attracting a total of nearly 280 million attendees since its inception two weeks ago, including federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is anticipated to draw around 400 million devotees in 2025. Devout Hindus believe that bathing at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers absolves them of sins and grants salvation.
Opposition leaders have criticized the incident as a result of mismanagement, urging the government to enhance festival arrangements. Local media outlets have echoed these sentiments, calling for improved crowd planning to prevent future tragedies.
As the festival continues, three more 'royal dips' are scheduled in the coming weeks, emphasizing the need for better crowd management to ensure the safety of millions of devotees.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
