15 feared dead, dozens injured in stampede during Mauni Amavasya at Maha Kumbh

Approximately 10 individuals were believed to have died following a stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on Wednesday morning. The event took place when thousands of worshippers pushed past barricades while crowding the Triveni Sangam for a sacred bath on Mauni Amavasya (new moon), the date of the second Shahi Snan (royal bath).

The event took place at approximately 2 am among a mass of densely-packed crowds gathering at the Sangam and all other ghats formed along a 12-km stretch of river banks for the Maha Kumbh. Numerous individuals sustained injuries as many families have been divided.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath noted that certain devotees leaped over the barriers, resulting in injuries for some, which instigated the stampede. He stated that the situation was managed and encouraged individuals not to circulate rumors regarding Maha Kumbh. “There is a large gathering in Kumbh.” Eight to ten crore worshippers gather at Kumbh. Close to six crore worshippers visited yesterday and had a sacred bath at the Sangam. The event took place between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. “The seers will carry out the Amrit Snan once the number of people decreases,” he stated during a press conference.

He mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted him four times after the incident and that he was consistently watching the situation.

The Akharas (monastic orders) earlier announced that the Amrit Snan had been cancelled for today following the stampede. However, Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president Ravindra Puri said that Akharas will go ahead with the snan as planned after crowds thin out.

“Crores of people came in the morning. We tried to postpone the morning bath today. But now the crowd has reduced. The places where we had to take the holy dip are being cleared. We will take a holy dip. There will be a procession of all the Akharas. It will not be a big procession, but a rally will take place on a small scale,” he said.

He said the Akharas were in regular touch with the administration and asserted that misinformation was spread to create fear in the minds of people, which led to the stampede.

“We have a lot of time and we are in no hurry. We can do snan even at night. In the morning, misinformation was spread to create fear in the minds of people and they succeeded. In the morning, when we talked to everyone we found that the reality was different and a lot of rumours were spread. I want to urge people to not run towards Sangam and take a dip wherever they find Ganga ji,” he said.

More than 10 crore pilgrims were anticipated to bathe at the Sangam on Mauni Amavasya today. Mauni Amavasya is regarded as the most auspicious occasion for devotees to immerse themselves in the Ganga. This year, a unique celestial alignment known as ‘Triveni Yog’ is taking place after 144 years, enhancing the day’s spiritual importance.

Mauni Amavasya, occurring simultaneously with the ongoing Maha Kumbh, is regarded as a sacred time for Hindus, who think it offers salvation and tranquility. Worshippers will participate in silence, fasting, and reverence for ancestors as elements of the ceremonies at the Sangam.

The Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet, is regarded as the most sacred site by Hindus. It is believed that bathing there during Maha Kumbh, especially on significant dates like Mauni Amavasya, cleanses individuals of their sins and grants them ‘moksha’ or liberation. In preparation for this special day, the Uttar Pradesh government implemented stringent crowd management protocols, encompassing no-vehicle areas and sector-based limitations. The measures were intended to guarantee the smooth and organized flow of attendees during the event.

The Maha Kumbh, occurring after 12 years, began on January 13 and will last until February 26. The Uttar Pradesh government, which is organizing the fair, anticipates approximately 40 crore attendees at the largest spiritual event in the world. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda communicated with Adityanath, assuring him of all possible assistance from the central government. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene, and the injured were moved to a temporary hospital in the Mela area. Officials urged the worshippers to leave the area after immersing themselves in the Sangam.

Crores of individuals are seen congregated at the Triveni Sangam on the morning of Wednesday, January 29, to mark the event of ‘Mauni Amavasya’ following a stampede that occurred around 2.30 am due to an overwhelming crowd, as depicted by an aerial video of the Maha Kumbh mela at Prayagraj.

The footage captures a vast assembly of people at the ghat, sweeping across the Maha Kumbh mela location, yet a less dense gathering at the tip of the Triveni Sangam, where the three rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet. As the video moves, millions of people are visible in a myriad of colors. The Triveni Sangam ghat is adorned with tents, flags, and temporary paths, bustling with worshippers.

The images were captured hours after a deadly stampede occurred at the Triveni Sangam when a crowd assembled for the ‘amrit snan’ (holy dip) during Mauni Amavasya, one of the holiest occasions of the Maha Kumbh festival. Up to 15 individuals lost their lives due to the stampede, according to sources familiar with the situation who requested to remain unnamed.

In the midst of the turmoil, numerous devotees left without participating in the sacred immersion. Multiple akharas, ready to take part in the major event and having arrived at the ghat for the snan, decided to cancel it due to the tragic consequences of the stampede and to prevent more disturbances. As per the Juna Akhara Narain Giri spokesperson, the akharas have delayed their ‘snan’ because of the stampede and overwhelming crowd pressure.

To manage the situation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged devotees to refrain from proceeding to the Sangam Nose and instead perform their bathing rituals at other ghats along the Ganga.  The chief minister notified devotees that multiple bathing ghats have been constructed for them to safely celebrate Mauni Amavasya while rescue operations are underway by authorities near the Sangam Nose.