Prayagraj, India: At least seven people, and possibly as many as 12, were killed in a stampede during the Mahakumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, India, with many others injured.
The tragic incident occurred early on Wednesday (29th January) morning near the riverbank during one of the most sacred events of the six-week Hindu festival. There is still no official confirmation of how many people have been injured or killed
Rescuers were seen carrying victims away, as clothes, shoes, and other personal belongings were scattered on the ground.
The situation is still under control, with a Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed to manage the crowd and assist in rescue efforts.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, directing efforts for the normalization of the situation and relief for the affected victims.
The Mahakumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is one of the most significant events in the Hindu religious calendar, drawing millions of pilgrims to the banks of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
प्रयागराज महाकुंभ में हुआ हादसा अत्यंत दुखद है। इसमें जिन श्रद्धालुओं ने अपने परिजनों को खोया है, उनके प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। इसके साथ ही मैं सभी घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं। स्थानीय प्रशासन पीड़ितों की हरसंभव मदद में जुटा हुआ है। इस सिलसिले में मैंने…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 29, 2025
Up to 400 million people were expected at this year’s festival, which will continue until February 26. Wednesday marked one of the holiest days, and officials had predicted up to 100 million people to attend the bathing day.
Officials had used loudspeakers to urge people to avoid the water as the stampede began. They called for cooperation with security personnel to ensure the safety of all attendees.
The festival is infamous for deadly crowd crushes, with over 400 deaths in 1954 and 36 fatalities during the 2013 edition in Prayagraj.
Despite efforts to improve safety with hundreds of surveillance cameras and a control centre to monitor crowd density, crowd-related accidents continue to plague the Mahakumbh Mela.
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