Indian authorities have launched a judicial inquiry into a deadly stampede that occurred during the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival on Wednesday. The tragedy unfolded as millions of devotees gathered in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, for a \"holy dip\" in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
Police officials reported that 30 people were killed and 90 injured in the crush. However, sources suggest the death toll may be closer to 40. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as immense crowds surged towards the riverbanks, leading to many being trampled or collapsing due to suffocation.
\"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be conducted,\" Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced. \"We have formed a three-member judicial commission to look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit.\"
On Wednesday alone, more than 76 million people participated in the ritual bathing, according to official estimates. Since the festival began two weeks ago, approximately 280 million people have attended the event, which attracts devotees, federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities alike.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is considered the world's largest gathering of humanity. Officials anticipate that the festival will draw approximately 400 million devotees by its conclusion in 2025. For comparison, the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia attracted 1.8 million people last year.
Devout Hindus believe that bathing at the sacred confluence absolves them of sins and facilitates liberation from the cycle of birth and death. While ritual bathing occurs daily during the festival, specific dates known as 'royal dips' are considered particularly auspicious. Wednesday marked one such day, with three more scheduled before the festival ends.
Opposition leaders criticized the government's handling of the event, attributing the stampede to mismanagement and inadequate crowd control measures. Local media echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for improved planning to prevent future tragedies.
\"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. A repeat of the tragedy must be prevented at the three 'royal dips' scheduled in coming weeks.\"
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India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
