A tragic stampede broke out at the Sangam banks during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh late Tuesday night, around 1:30 AM. The chaos has claimed the lives of 35-40 people so far, with over 70 others injured. Officials fear the death toll may rise further.
Scenes from the Medical College
Our Bhaskar reporter visited Srishti Medical College, where the bodies of the deceased were being kept. She counted at least 20 bodies, with the last one marked as number 40.
Initially, 14 bodies were brought in for post-mortem. Later, 8-10 more arrived in ambulances from the fairgrounds. Around 20 bodies have already been handed over to their grieving families.
Lack of Official Updates
Despite the magnitude of the tragedy, authorities had not provided any official statement regarding the casualties or the injured even 14 hours after the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, stating:
“I am in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. Crores of devotees have gathered for the event. Though the bathing process was briefly disrupted, it has now resumed smoothly for several hours.”
Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged people to stay calm and avoid overcrowding at the Sangam. He reassured devotees:
“The Ganges is sacred everywhere. You can take a holy dip wherever you are, not just at the Sangam.”
Political Reactions
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi blamed the stampede on VIP culture and government mismanagement. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded that the event be handed over to the army for better control.
Heartbreaking Scenes Outside the Medical College
Families of the deceased were seen weeping inconsolably outside the medical facility, searching for their loved ones.
What Led to the Stampede?
Two major factors triggered the chaos:
- Pontoon Bridges Closed
- Due to Amrit Snan, most pontoon bridges were shut down. This led to a massive crowd buildup at the Sangam.
- Some people got trapped in barricades and fell, triggering panic and a stampede.
- Poor Crowd Management
- There were no separate entry and exit routes at the Sangam Nose area.
- People entering and exiting used the same pathway, creating a bottleneck.
- When the stampede began, there was no way to escape, and people started falling over each other.
Rescue Efforts and Current Situation
- Over 70 ambulances rushed to the spot to transport the injured and the deceased.
- NSG commandos took charge of security at the site.
- Entry into the Sangam Nose area has been restricted.
- To prevent further overcrowding, authorities have stopped incoming devotees from nearby districts and issued an alert.
Massive Gathering for Mauni Amavasya Snan
Today marks the sacred Mauni Amavasya Snan, drawing an estimated 9 crore devotees to the city. Officials predict that by the end of the day, 8 to 10 crore people will have taken a dip across 44 designated ghats.
On Tuesday alone, around 5.5 crore devotees bathed in the Sangam. Security remains tight, with over 60,000 personnel deployed across the city.
