At Least Seven Killed in Stampede at India's Maha Kumbh Festival

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India early Wednesday claimed the lives of at least seven people and left around 10 others injured, according to officials. The deadly incident occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. near the ascetics’ arena, where barricades were set up to manage the overwhelming crowd gathered for a sacred dip in the holy rivers.

Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, stated that while the situation was under control, the sheer size of the crowd remained a challenge. Videos and photographs from the scene showed a chaotic aftermath, with bodies being carried away on stretchers, grieving devotees, and personal belongings scattered across the ground.

Eyewitness Accounts of Chaos

Witnesses described a powerful surge of devotees pushing towards the riverbanks at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, where a holy dip is believed to bring salvation.

Vijay Kumar, a pilgrim from Patna, recounted the terrifying moments:
"There were barricades ahead and police with batons behind us. The push was too strong—people started falling. Bodies were everywhere; I don’t know if they were dead or alive."

A grieving woman told ANI news agency, "People kept stepping on us when we fell. I survived, but my mother has died."

A Reuters journalist on-site reported seeing multiple dead bodies as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.

Government Response and Political Criticism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on X (formerly Twitter), assuring that local authorities were providing all necessary assistance. However, opposition parties have blamed the tragedy on poor crowd management and the prioritization of VIPs over regular devotees.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the handling of the festival, stating, "VIP culture should be curbed, and the government must ensure better arrangements for common pilgrims."

Despite the stampede, the Maha Kumbh Mela continues to draw record crowds. Over 36 million people had taken a holy dip by 10 a.m. Wednesday, and authorities had anticipated a staggering 100 million visitors throughout the day.

Security forces, including the Rapid Action Force, have been deployed to restore order and assist victims. The incident echoes a similar tragedy in 2013, when 36 people lost their lives in a stampede on the festival’s most auspicious day.

With tens of millions still expected to visit, concerns remain over crowd control measures and the safety of pilgrims in the days ahead.