In a heartbreaking turn of events, a stampede at India's Maha Kumbh Mela has claimed the lives of over 30 devotees, according to police reports, with some sources indicating nearly 40 fatalities 😢. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday as millions of pilgrims flocked to take a \"holy dip\" at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, celebrated every 12 years, is renowned as the world's largest human gathering. On this auspicious day, officials reported that more than 76 million people had taken the sacred plunge in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, by 8 p.m. alone 🌊. Since the festival began two weeks ago, nearly 280 million devotees—including federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities—have participated in the rituals.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the immense crowd surged towards the rivers. Some recounted a massive push that led pilgrims to fall onto one another, while others blamed the closure of key routes, causing a bottleneck that left people gasping for air amidst the crush.
Responding to the disaster, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial inquiry. \"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 stated. \"The commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit.\"
Devout Hindus believe that bathing at the Sangam—the meeting point of the three rivers—absolves sins and grants salvation from the cycle of birth and death. While 'holy dips' occur daily during the festival, specific dates are considered particularly sacred, known as 'royal dips' 👑. Wednesday marked one such day, with three more scheduled before the festival concludes.
The tragedy has ignited criticism from opposition leaders, who blame mismanagement for the stampede and urge the government to enhance safety measures. Local media echoed these sentiments, calling for better crowd planning to prevent future incidents.
\"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,\" the Hindustan Times noted 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.\"
As the festival continues, with expectations of drawing some 400 million devotees by 2025 🚀, all eyes are on the authorities to ensure that the remaining 'royal dips' proceed safely. The Maha Kumbh Mela is a testament to faith and tradition, and the hope is that such a tragedy will never repeat.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
