Indian authorities have launched a judicial inquiry into a deadly stampede that occurred at the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of dozens of devotees and injuring many others. The tragedy unfolded as millions of pilgrims gathered in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to partake in the \"holy dip\" at the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.
According to official reports, at least 30 people lost their lives in the crush, with police sources suggesting the death toll may be as high as 40. Over 90 individuals were injured in what is considered the world's largest human gathering. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as a massive surge toward the riverbanks caused people to fall and become trapped in the crowd. Some attributed the tragedy to the closure of routes leading to the water, which led to suffocation and panic among the densely packed devotees.
\"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done. For this, we have formed a three-member judicial commission,\" Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced to reporters late on Wednesday. \"The judicial commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit,\" he added.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, a six-week festival held every 12 years, attracts millions of pilgrims who believe that bathing at the holy confluence absolves them of sins and brings salvation. On Wednesday alone, officials reported that more than 76 million people participated in the ritual bathing. Since the festival began two weeks ago, nearly 280 million attendees have been recorded, with expectations of drawing some 400 million devotees in 2025.
The tragedy has prompted criticism from opposition leaders and media outlets, who have pointed to mismanagement and inadequate crowd control measures. \"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,\" stated an editorial in the Hindustan Times. \"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'—the most auspicious days for the holy bathing—scheduled before the festival concludes, there are growing calls for authorities to enhance safety measures to prevent further incidents.
As the judicial commission prepares to investigate the causes of the stampede, millions of devotees continue to arrive in Prayagraj, drawn by their faith and the promise of spiritual purification at one of Hinduism's most sacred events.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
