At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in a devastating stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj early Wednesday, when a massive crowd of pilgrims broke through barricades during the auspicious Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual.
The tragedy unfolded between 1 AM and 2 AM at the Sangam area when devotees attempted to climb over barricades at Akhara marg, Vaibhav Krishna, DIG Mahakumbh, told PTI. The incident occurred as crores of pilgrims converged at the holy site for the sacred dip.
Security personnel and rescue workers were immediately deployed, carrying injured devotees on stretchers to nearby medical facilities. The area bore witness to the chaos, with personal belongings of pilgrims, including blankets and bags, scattered across the ground.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the incident, noting that some devotees were "seriously injured." The Uttar Pradesh government has yet to release official casualty figures.
The traditional 'amrit snan' ceremony of the akharas, which was initially postponed due to the tragedy, resumed at 2:30 PM. Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, led a notably subdued procession.
The incident has drawn nationwide attention, with President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, along with various Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Opposition leaders expressing their condolences to the bereaved families.