Indian authorities have initiated a judicial inquiry into the tragic stampede that occurred during the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of dozens of devotees. The incident unfolded as millions gathered for a \"holy dip\" in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
Police reports confirmed that 30 people were killed and 90 injured in the crush at what is considered the world's largest human gathering. However, sources indicated that the death toll may be closer to 40.
Eyewitness accounts varied, with some describing a sudden surge towards the riverbanks that caused people to fall upon one another, while others blamed the closure of access routes to the water, which led to a standstill in the dense crowd and instances of suffocation.
\"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be conducted,\" announced Uttar Pradesh State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during a press briefing late on Wednesday. \"We have formed a three-member judicial commission to look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a stipulated time.\"
Officials stated that more than 76 million people participated in the ritual bathing at the sacred site in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, by 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday alone. Since the festival commenced two weeks ago, nearly 280 million people have attended, including federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, a Hindu festival held every 12 years, is expected to attract approximately 400 million devotees by its conclusion in 2025, according to official estimates. For comparison, the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia drew 1.8 million people last year.
Devout Hindus believe that taking a dip at the confluence of the three sacred rivers absolves them of sins and grants salvation from the cycle of birth and death.
Opposition leaders have criticized the incident as a result of mismanagement and have urged the government to enhance festival arrangements. Local media echoed these sentiments on Thursday, emphasizing the need for improved crowd planning to prevent future tragedies.
\"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 need to be deployed, and better planning is needed—using both ground resources and modern technology.\"
The editorial stressed the importance of preventing a repeat of the tragedy during the three remaining 'royal dips' scheduled in the coming weeks. While devotees take holy dips daily, specific dates are considered particularly sacred for the practice. Wednesday was one such day, and three more are planned before the festival concludes.
Reference(s):
India orders probe into Hindu festival stampede that killed dozens
cgtn.com
