Tragically, a stampede that occurred in the early morning hours of Wednesday at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj killed at least 30 people and injured 60, officials said. When a large crowd pressed against the river, they tore through barricades in order to perform a holy dip. Since then, authorities have started investigation the reasons why the stampede occured, and have also taken actions to prevent similar incidents.
What Led to the Deadly Stampede?
According to officials, the stampede took place between 1 AM and 2 AM at Akhara Marg,’ a section of the temporary city that sprawls across 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres). With thousands of devotees eager to perform their ritual bath before Brahma Muhurta (the most auspicious time for prayer and meditation, starting at 3 AM), the crowd surged uncontrollably, leading to panic and chaos.
Crowd control barriers erected to control the flow of people toppled when, effectively, pilgrims pressed forward, resulting in people toppling and being trampled. Emergency services evacuated roughly 90 injured devotees to hospitals, however, 30 of them died as a result of the injuries.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, confirmed that 25 of the deceased have been identified, while five remain unidentified. Of the victims, 4 were in Karnataka, 1 in Assam and 1 in Gujarat. Currently there are 36 injured people being hospitalized and treated at a nearby medical college.
“Before Brahma Muhurta, between 1 AM and 2 AM, a huge crowd gathered at Akhara Marg. As a result of the overflow, the barriers on the other side collapsed, which triggered a run. 90 people were rushed to the hospital, but sadly, 30 have died,” DIG Vaibhav Krishna told reporters.
Eyewitnesses say the tragedy was caused by a sudden increase in devotees eager to reach the Sangam (the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers) for the auspicious bath at 3 AM.
Could the Authorities Have Prevented the Stampede?
Quite a few of the eyewitnesses hold the view that the tragedy might have been preventable, had some other improved crowd control measures been provided. Speaking to NDTV, one witness Jagvanti from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, has accused hesitant response of the administration of the tragedy.
“If they had opened the barriers in time, this stampede could have been averted,” she said. “The barriers were not opened soon enough. A huge crowd built up, and nobody came to help. People were trampling over each other. We watched our mother and sister-in-law be killed before our eyes. “
Response and Preventive Measures
Following the disaster, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has requested Mahamandaleshwars (spiritual leaders), saints and Akharas avoid their ritual dips to curtail crowding and to prevent any additional mishap.
The Akharas’ Amrit Snan (sacred bath) has now been completed miraculously under strict management, so that no more deaths occur.
After the incident, the chief minister Adityanath has cancelled all of his programmes scheduled in Delhi, including campaign for Delhi Assembly polls. His focus is now on overseeing relief efforts and ensuring that the remaining Kumbh Mela events proceed safely.
Concerns Over Safety at Maha Kumbh
The Maha Kumbh Mela is one of the biggest religious masses in the world, drawing in tens of thousands for the ritual of seeing spiritual washing off by a bath in the holy rivers. But such events nevertheless generate a number of concerns relating to crowd management and safety procedures in the accompanying event.
They are currently implementing measures to fortify barricades, augment security forces, and refurbish emergency response networks to avoid future unfortunate events.
As investigations continue, families of the deceased mourn their loss, while survivors recount the chaotic and terrifying moments of the tragic stampede at Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh.
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