Many deaths are feared and around 30 women have been injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh on the morning of Mauni Amavasya, prompting Akharas to defer the holy dip. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended condolences to "devotees who have lost their loved ones", while assuring that the local administration is helping out the affected.
As crores of devotees streamed into the tent city in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj ahead of the 'Amrit Snan', barricades about a kilometre away from the 'Sangam' broke leading to some women fainting. As the unconscious women fell, the stampede began. They were then rushed to a hospital within the Maha Kumbh fair grounds. Further, some seriously injured women were sent to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College or treatment.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the situation is under control, but the crowd pressure remains. He urged devotees to take a dip at the nearest ghat and not make way for the Sangam Nose. "The elderly, children and asthma patients need to be extremely cautious and bathe at ghats nearest to them. All are Ganga ghats and all would get the same 'punya' (divine blessings) as it is Mauni Amavasya," he said.
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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.
Akhada Parishad General Secretary and Juna Akhara Patron Mahant Hari Giri too appealed to devotees to take a bath in the Ganga river wherever they are and return home.
The stampede prompted sharp reactions from political leaders, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanding that that those who claimed "world-class arrangements" in the Maha Kumbh should resign from their posts taking moral responsibility for the incident.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has blamed the "stampede" on half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, and prioritising self-promotion over proper management. He said that VIP movement should be curbed at the Maha Kumbh.
A day should be reserved for visits by VIPs, said Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, adding that more than Rs 10,000 crore have been spent for the management of Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj. "Where did the money go? The BJP has been doing political campaigning through the Kumbh. It wants to market the Kumbh and contest polls. This is not their faith but politics, and people lose their lives," Raut said.
In light of the incident, the Uttarakhand government toll-free numbers to assist its citizens attending the Mahakumbh. "People who have gone to Maha Kumbh from the state can get any kind of help by calling toll-free numbers--1070, 8218867005, and 90584 41404," the office of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X.
A day ahead of the second Amrit Snan, nearly five crore people had already reached Prayagraj, while crowds were pegged to swell to 10 crore on the day itself. Authorities implemented stringent security measures, managing massive crowds with AI-powered surveillance, drone monitoring, and increased police presence. While the Mela area has already been declared a no-vehicle zone for the next few days, the Prayagraj administration has also made a fervent appeal to local residents to avoid using four wheelers and opt for two wheelers only if carrying senior citizens to the Sangam.
The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh.
Photo Credit: ANI
The railways is running 360 trains, including 190 special trains, to accommodate the unprecedented influx of pilgrims. "The special trains are being run in three zones -- Northern Railway, North Eastern Railway and North Central Railway -- to manage the massive influx of devotees," Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board said. "This historic move will ensure a train runs every four minutes, and provide seamless connectivity and uninterrupted travel for millions of pilgrims," he added.
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The Uttar Pradesh government has deployed more than 1,000 medical professionals in the Maha Kumbh area, apart from provisions for minor to major surgeries in every sector of the fair area, an official statement said. Additionally, 300 specialist doctors are stationed at a super-specialty hospital in the Mahakumbh Nagar to handle any emergency situations.
The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh. This year, the occasion holds added spiritual importance due to a rare celestial alignment known as 'Triveni Yog,' which occurs once every 144 years.
As per tradition of the Kumbh Mela, Akharas belonging to the three sects 'Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen' take the holy dip in a set sequence following a majestic, awe-inspiring procession to the Sangam Ghat.
The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.
Photo Credit: ANI
The seers and saints, including the ash-smeared Nagas, then immerse themselves in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers on special bathing dates like the Mauni Amavasya. Mauni Amavasya is considered the most auspicious date among all the special bathing dates, and it is believed that on this day, the water of the holy rivers turns into 'Amrit.' The government also planned to shower 25 quintals of rose petals using helicopters on the devotees.
The Maha Kumbh 2025 has already witnessed over 15 crore pilgrims taking a holy dip in the past 17 days. Over 4.80 crore devotees took the snan on Tuesday alone - even more than that of Amrit Snan' on Makar Sankranti (3.5 crore), the Uttar Pradesh government said.
The Maha Kumbh started on January 13 and will continue till February 26.
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