Prayagraj, India — Indian authorities have launched a judicial inquiry into a tragic stampede that occurred on Wednesday at the Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least 30 devotees and left over 90 injured, according to police reports. Unofficial sources suggest the death toll may be closer to 40.
Millions of pilgrims had gathered in the northern city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh state to participate in a \"holy dip\" at the confluence of three sacred rivers: the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. The ritual is believed by devout Hindus to cleanse sins and aid in attaining salvation.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as surging crowds pushed towards the riverbanks. Some reported that the closure of access routes led to a standstill, causing suffocation and panic among the densely packed devotees. Others recounted how the massive push caused people to stumble and fall, leading to the deadly crush.
\"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 during a press briefing late Wednesday. \"The judicial commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit,\" he added.
By 8 p.m. local time on the day of the tragedy, officials estimated that more than 76 million people had taken the ritualistic dip. Since the festival began two weeks prior, nearly 280 million attendees had visited, including government officials, business leaders, and celebrities. The Maha Kumbh Mela, which occurs every 12 years, is expected to draw approximately 400 million devotees in 2025.
Opposition leaders criticized the handling of the event, attributing the stampede to inadequate crowd management. They called on the government to enhance safety measures for the remaining \"royal dips\" scheduled in the coming weeks. Local media echoed these concerns, with The Hindustan Times emphasizing the need for better planning: \"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh. There is no doubt that more personnel have to be deployed, and better planning is needed — using both ground resources and modern technology.\"
The festival features specific days deemed particularly auspicious for taking the holy dip, known as \"royal dips.\" Wednesday marked one such day, drawing exceptionally large crowds. Authorities are under increased pressure to prevent further tragedies as millions more are expected to participate before the festival concludes.
The Maha Kumbh Mela holds profound significance in Hindu culture, symbolizing purification and spiritual rebirth. As investigations proceed, families mourn the victims of the disaster, and the nation grapples with questions about safety at large-scale religious events.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
