Stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela Leaves Several Dead, Dozens Injured
PRAYAGRAJ, INDIA:A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India claimed the lives of more than seven people and left around 10 others injured early Wednesday, officials reported. The incident occurred as millions of Hindu devotees gathered for the festival’s most significant day.
Drone footage revealed vast crowds arriving at the temporary township in Prayagraj during the early hours to take a sacred dip in the river. However, chaos ensued when the stampede broke out, leaving people scrambling for safety. Images and videos from the site showed bodies being carried away on stretchers, distressed individuals in tears, and scattered personal belongings left behind.
A Reuters correspondent at the scene witnessed multiple fatalities as ambulances rushed toward the riverbank where the tragedy unfolded. The stampede occurred around 1 a.m. local time (1930 GMT), and while the exact cause remains unknown, witnesses described how devotees trying to escape were caught in another surge near an exit.
Some pilgrims attempted to retreat to pontoon bridges but found them blocked by authorities. “I saw people falling and being trampled—women and children were separated from their families, crying for help,” recounted Ravin, a devotee from Mumbai.
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed to restore order, and rescue efforts were swiftly launched. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urging immediate relief measures. In response, Adityanath advised devotees to use alternative riverbanks for their holy dip instead of heading toward the main festival grounds.
Following the tragedy, authorities canceled the scheduled ‘royal bath.’ Despite extensive security arrangements, medical teams, and crowd management systems in place, the disaster still occurred.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy at the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela, where a stampede led to the deaths of at least 36 pilgrims. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the latest incident.
