Tragic Stampede at Sangam During Maha Kumbh Festival in Prayagraj: Multiple Fatalities and Injuries
A stampede turned tragic on the Sangam shore of the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj early on Wednesday. Many people have lost their lives while hundreds of others are reportedly injured. Thousands of devotees had thronged the place to take the holy Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya. At least 10 people died in the tragedy, according to local reports, though it is yet to be confirmed by the official side.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Tragedy at Prayagraj’s Sangam
Eyewitnesses present at the incident site described moments as chaotic and harrowing when the crowd was surging. A witness expressed frustration with the delayed response from authorities, stating, “We called the CRPF and the police a long time ago, but no one has come yet. It’s been half an hour, and we have taken our person to the hospital…”
Another eyewitness, Jay Prakash Swami, who witnessed the incident first hand, recalled, “She had gotten trapped under the crowd and couldn’t get up. We were all stuck in the crowd. I was the first to get out, then I helped the children and my father and then my mother.”
Vidhya Sahu, another eyewitness who had traveled from Belgavi, Karnataka, shared her experience, saying, “We were just walking when people from behind pushed us and took us around. There was a pole in the opposite direction, and everyone got stuck near it.”
Police and Rescue Efforts Amid the Stampede
Despite the deployment of nearly 50,000 police and security personnel at the venue to maintain law and order, pictures from the spot showed rescuers finding it difficult to help the injured as police struggled to regulate the surging crowd. The reason for the panic that led to the stampede is still unknown.
The Maha Kumbh Festival: A Congregation of Millions
More than 400 million people would attend the holy site during the six-week festival when millions of pilgrims were to throng the Maha Kumbh, which started on January 13, a once-in-12-years event.
The Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, was the central location for the pilgrimage.
Prime Minister Modi Reviews the Situation
Relief process is underway and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has talked to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, on reviewing the situation. The Prime Minister has called for immediate measures to support those affected by this tragedy.
The Maha Kumbh Mela continues with authorities taking measures to ensure pilgrims’ safety and prevent further incidents.