🙏 Tragedy struck at one of India's most sacred festivals when a massive stampede claimed the lives of dozens of devotees during the Maha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday. As millions gathered for a \"holy dip\" in the sacred rivers, chaos unfolded, leaving a nation in mourning.
Officials reported that 30 people lost their lives and 90 were injured in the crush. However, sources revealed that the death toll might be closer to 40. Witnesses described a terrifying scene where a sudden push towards the rivers caused people to fall and suffocate amid the dense crowd. Some blamed the closure of routes to the water, which led to a standstill and panic.
In response to the tragedy, Uttar Pradesh state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial probe into the incident. \"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done. For this, we have formed a three-member judicial commission,\" he told reporters late on Wednesday. \"The commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit.\"
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is the world's largest gathering of humanity. On Wednesday alone, over 76 million people took a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Since the festival began two weeks ago, nearly 280 million have attended, including federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities.
Devout Hindus believe that bathing at this sacred confluence absolves them of sins and brings salvation from the cycle of birth and death. With an estimated 400 million devotees expected in 2025, the importance of safety at such massive events is paramount.
Opposition leaders have criticized the tragedy as a result of mismanagement, urging the government to enhance festival arrangements. Local media echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for better crowd planning to prevent future incidents.
\"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,\" the Hindustan Times stated in an editorial. \"There is no doubt that more personnel have to be deployed, and better planning is needed – using both ground resources and modern technology.\"
With three more 'royal dips' scheduled before the festival concludes, ensuring the safety of the millions who continue to flock to the sacred rivers is more critical than ever. While devotees take 'holy dips' daily, these specific dates are considered particularly sacred, drawing even larger crowds.
As the nation grieves, there's a collective hope that lessons learned will lead to safer celebrations in the future. After all, festivals like the Maha Kumbh Mela are not just religious events; they're cultural landmarks that unite people in faith and tradition. Let's hope future gatherings bring only joy and spiritual fulfillment. 🙏✨
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
