Prayagraj: A deadly stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday claimed the lives of more than seven people and left around 10 others injured, according to an official. The incident occurred as tens of millions of devotees gathered in Prayagraj for a holy dip on what is considered the most auspicious day of the six-week Hindu festival.
Drone footage captured the immense crowds, with pilgrims arriving shoulder to shoulder in the pre-dawn hours at the temporary township. The festival, held at the confluence of three rivers—the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical, invisible Saraswati—draws millions of worshippers seeking spiritual purification.
Several people were killed and many injured in a stampede at India's Maha Kumbh Mela as tens of millions gathered to take a holy dip on the most auspicious day of the six-week Hindu festival https://t.co/MHPKHL8sUV pic.twitter.com/j2dENPdaWd
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 29, 2025
Chaos and Aftermath
Following the stampede, distressing images and videos surfaced, showing bodies being carried away on stretchers while grief-stricken relatives sat on the ground weeping. Others were seen navigating through piles of discarded belongings—clothes, shoes, backpacks, and blankets—left behind in the chaotic escape.
A Reuters witness reported seeing multiple dead bodies as ambulances rushed towards the riverbank where the tragic event unfolded.
“More than seven people have been killed in the stampede and around 10 others injured,” an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to address the media.
Officials confirmed that the stampede occurred around 1 a.m. local time (1930 GMT), though the exact cause remains unclear. Witnesses described a sudden surge in the crowd near the sacred confluence, leading to people falling over one another.
“We had barricades in front of us and police with batons on the other side. The push from behind was very powerful,… people started falling,” said Vijay Kumar, a pilgrim from Patna.
“There were people lying all around; I don’t know if they were dead or alive.”
A woman who was among those caught in the crowd recounted her ordeal to news agency ANI. “People kept stepping on us. I am safe, but my mother has died,” she said.
Rescue and Response Efforts
Authorities swiftly deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialized unit for crisis management, to control the situation and conduct rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and directed efforts toward restoring normalcy and ensuring relief measures, ANI reported.
Adityanath urged devotees to use alternative riverbanks for their holy dip instead of crowding the confluence. “All of you should follow the instructions of the administration and cooperate in making arrangements,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). Despite the tragedy, devotees continued their religious rites across different parts of the vast festival grounds.
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Mammoth Gathering Amidst Safety Challenges
The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, had already drawn nearly 200 million visitors in its first two weeks. Authorities had anticipated a record-breaking 100 million attendees on Wednesday alone, driven by a rare celestial alignment occurring for the first time in 144 years.
The event has also attracted prominent figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani. International celebrities such as Coldplay’s Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson reportedly arrived in Prayagraj on Tuesday. Modi himself is expected to visit the festival next month.
In response to the massive crowds, officials had implemented extensive safety measures, including enhanced security, medical facilities, special transportation services, and AI-driven crowd management systems. Despite these precautions, the stampede underscored the challenges of managing such an immense congregation.
Political Fallout and Historical Precedent
The tragedy has drawn political criticism, with Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge blaming “half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion than management, and mismanagement.” He urged the federal and state governments, both led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, to improve organizational efforts.
This is not the first time a deadly stampede has marred the festival. In 2013, a similar incident on the most auspicious bathing day resulted in the deaths of at least 36 pilgrims, primarily women.
As authorities continue relief operations and investigate the cause of Wednesday’s stampede, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the logistical and safety challenges inherent in orchestrating a festival of such immense scale.