A stampede-like situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the ‘Amrit Snan’ on ‘Mauni Amavasya.’
.
Maha kumbh stampede:
A stampede-like situation broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday as large crowds thronged the ghats for the holy dip on the occasion of the ‘Amrit Snan’ on ‘Mauni Amavasya.’ According to officials a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede like situation.
The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.
Around 30 women were injured and are undergoing treatment at the central hospital established in the Mela area.
As per the reports, some elderly people and women in the fair area fainted due to suffocation, leading to a stampede-like situation as they collapsed. As women and men fell on top of each other, the force of the crowd caused the barricades to break. This resulted in around 30 people being injured.
According to a Prayagraj-based social media content creator, an eyewitness, the stampede took place around 2:30 am when a large number of devotees reached at the Sangam banks.
“The problem was mainly due to the fact crowd had no idea where to go after bathing. These people were carrying heavy luggage on their head. There were large number of iron dustbins that could not be seen by pilgrims. A few people fell as they lost balance. Their luggage could be seen all over the area,” he said.
Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri said that seers have called off their Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan. “You would’ve seen what happened in the morning, and that’s why we have decided to… All of our saints and seers were ready for the ‘snan’ when we were informed about this incident. That’s why we have decided to call off our ‘snan’ on ‘Mauni Amavasya’,” Mahant Ravindra Puri told PTI.
.
Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya
Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of Maha Kumbh and is expected to attract around 10 crore pilgrims. This year, a rare celestial alignment called ‘Triveni Yoga’ is happening after 144 years, adding to the spiritual significance of the day.
The Triveni Sangam – the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati – is considered the most sacred by Hindus, with the belief that taking a dip in it during the Maha Kumbh and especially on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away people’s sins and grants them moksha or salvation.
Maha Kumbh Stampede: “Don’t Believe Rumours. Be Patient,” Appeals Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged citizens to not believe rumours and instead be patient as the state government deals with a stampede-like situation. Devotees can take a holy dip at closest ghats instead of stressing on going to Sangam nose, he said. “The situation is under control,” Chief Minister added.
He added that “the situation is under control, but 80 to 100 million worshippers are present at the mela grounds” even now and appealed to the pilgrims to not head to the Sangam Nose but bathe at the river banks wherever they are.
“You will receive the same blessings no matter where you bathe in the Ganges on this special day,” he added
.
Religious leaders and several akharas returned from Samgam Ghat
Religious leaders have called on pilgrims to avoid heading to the sangam today and to take baths instead at other points along the river.
The akharas, or sects of sadhus (holy people), have officially cancelled their bathing today which was due to start around 4am
.
Opposition leaders criticise government
Indian opposition leaders have criticised the government “Mismanagement, mismanagement and administration’s special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident,” Rahul Gandhi, opposition leader in parliament, said in a post on X, calling the incident “extremely sad”.
President of Gandhi’s Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge, also criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for “half-baked arrangements” and prioritising the movement of VIPs.
Samajwadi Party chief and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said that “the news of casualties of devotees in an accident caused by mismanagement in Maha Kumbh is extremely sad.”