India's vibrant Kumbh Festival, renowned as the world's largest human gathering, turned tragic as a stampede claimed dozens of lives on Wednesday. 💔
With over 76 million devotees taking a \"holy dip\" at the confluence of the sacred Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, the festive spirit was overshadowed by chaos.
Authorities have launched a probe into the incident. Uttar Pradesh state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a three-member judicial commission to investigate the cause of the stampede and prevent future tragedies.
Eyewitnesses described a massive surge towards the riverbanks, leading to panic as people fell and were trampled. Others blamed route closures for causing suffocating crowd standstills.
Despite the tragedy, the six-week-long festival continues to draw millions, with nearly 280 million attendees so far, including government officials, business leaders, and celebrities.
The Kumbh Festival, held every 12 years, is a spiritual pilgrimage where Hindus believe bathing in the sacred waters washes away sins and frees them from the cycle of rebirth.
Opposition leaders and local media are calling for improved crowd management to ensure safety during upcoming \"royal dips\"—special dates considered particularly sacred.
As the festival progresses, all eyes are on the authorities to enhance planning and protect the millions who come seeking spiritual solace. Let's hope for safer celebrations ahead. 🙏
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Kumbh festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
