At least 30 people died and 60 others were injured after a ‘stampede-like’ situation broke out at the Mahakumbh i♔n Prayagraj early Wednesday after a large number of pilgrims turned up to take a dip in Sangam on the occasion of ‘Mauni Amavasya’.
Later in the night, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a three-member judicial commission, comprising Jus🍌tice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retd IAS VK Singh to look into the reasons behind the stampede. He also announced an ಌex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.
At least 30 people died and 60 others were injured after a ‘stampede-like’ situation broke out at the Mahakumbh i♔n Prayagraj early Wednesday after a large number of pilgrims turned up to take a dip in Sangam on the occasion of ‘Mauni Amavasya’.
The incident occurred around 2 am and Maha Kumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna gave the details of the casualties at a press conference 🦄in Prayagraj in the evening.
Later in the night, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adity꧙anath 𝐆announced a three-member judicial commission, comprising Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retd IAS VK Singh to look into the reasons behind the stampede. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.
"The incident took place due to the pressure of the crowd. The crowd broke barricades and jumped to the other side, crushing those waiting there. Over 90 injured were rushed to the hospital, of whom 30 died," 𒁃he said.
The officer said 25 of the deceased have been identified. Four of them are from Karnat✃aka and one each fr༺om Assam and Gujarat.
Among those injured, 36 ar🅷e undergoin𝔉g treatment at the hospital and the rest have been sent with their families.
Foll🌜owing the incident, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri said that the seers have called off their Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan temporarily. Again around the afternoon, the Akhadas res��umed holy dips. Reportedly, over seven and half crore devotees took a dip Wednesday.
UP CM💖 Yogi Adityanath stated, "It is important to get to the bottom of the whole episode on how such a tragedy occurred," as he announced an in-depth probe into the tragic incident. He added that the chief secretary and DGP would visit the Maha Kumbh on Thursday for the probe.
DIG Krishna said barricades have been placed in the mꦰela and akhara areas for lane management but they gave way under the p👍ressure of the jostling.
As the barricades broke, people fell o💮n those sitting and waiting for taking the holy dip during the 'brahm muhurt' (early morning time considered auspicious to perform certain activities), he said.
Many ordinary people, including women and children, fell d🉐own and were crushed🌊.
The officer said the government has iss🦋ued st🙈rict directives there will be no VIP protocol in the mela now onwards.
As per the tradition, Akharas belonging to the three sects 'Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen' take the holy dip in a set sequence following a procession to the Sangam Ghat on special bathing dates like ♋the Mauni Amavasya, which are marked by special celestial 📖alignments and considered holy among Hindus.
However, with the situ꧂ation now under control, the Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan has been resumed.
On Tuesday, a day before the Mauni Amavasya, nearly 5 crore people reached for the dip during the fair, according to estimates of the Uttar Pradesh government, which expects the crowd 🐟to be around 10 crore on Wednesday.
“We came in a batch of 60 people in two buses, we were nine people in the group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled. There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides,” Sarojini from Karnataka told PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation in a call with Utta𒊎r Pradesh Chi♉ef Minister Yogi Adityanath and called for immediate support measures.
Meanwhile, spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur requested people not to insist on taking a bath at Sangam only. “... I did not go to the Sangam Ghat because the size of the crowds over there is massive... I appeal to 𒁏the people that not insist on taking a bath at the Sangam Ghat🍌 only. The entire Ganga and Yamuna rivers are 'Amrit' right now…,” he said.
The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most signಞificant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and ⛎is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims. This year, a rare celestial alignment called 'Triveni Yog' is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day.
It is believed that taking a dip in the Triveni Sangam during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasy♐a washes𝔍 away people’s sins and provides them ‘moksha’ or salvation.