India is mourning after a tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, claimed the lives of dozens of devotees on Wednesday. 😔 As millions flocked to the sacred rivers for a 'holy dip', chaos erupted, leading to heartbreaking losses.
The stampede occurred in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where over 76 million people gathered to wash away their sins at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. The festival, which spans six weeks, has already drawn nearly 280 million participants, highlighting its immense significance in Hindu culture.
Witnesses described a massive surge towards the riverbanks, with some attributing the disaster to route closures that left the densely packed crowd with nowhere to go. The suffocating conditions caused many to collapse, leading to the devastating toll.
\"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done. For this, we have formed a three-member judicial commission,\" announced Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He assured that the commission would \"look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit.\"
Police reports confirmed 30 fatalities and 90 injuries, but sources suggest the death toll could be closer to 40. Opposition leaders criticized the management of the festival, calling for improved arrangements to prevent such tragedies.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is a monumental event anticipated to draw around 400 million devotees in 2025. For context, last year's Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia saw 1.8 million participants. The 'royal dips' are considered the most auspicious times for bathing, with three more scheduled before the festival concludes.
Devout Hindus believe that immersing themselves in the sacred waters absolves them of sins and frees them from the cycle of birth and death. This deep-rooted faith drives millions to participate despite the challenges.
Local media and authorities are now emphasizing the need for better crowd management. The Hindustan Times editorial emphasized, \"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh. More personnel need to be deployed, and better planning is needed – using both ground resources and modern technology.\"
As India grapples with this tragedy, there is hope that lessons learned will lead to safer celebrations in the future. Our thoughts are with the families affected during this difficult time. ❤️
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
