A stampede happened at the Sangam area during the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday. Many people were trying to take a holy dip in the Ganga River for Mauni Amavasya, leading to a chaotic scene. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath mentioned that some devotees were seriously hurt.
The incident took place between 1 AM and 2 AM when some people pushed over the barriers at Akhara marg. Those who got injured were taken to hospitals right away for treatment. After a meeting in Lucknow, Adityanath said that key leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah called him to check on the situation.
The Chief Minister also stated that leaders of various akharas agreed to wait and take their holy dip later when the crowd thinned out. He emphasized that the safety of the devotees is a top priority. Although the situation is under control, the crowd is still large. Adityanath asked people to use their nearest ghats instead of heading to the Sangam.
Officer Akanksha Rana confirmed that some got hurt when a barrier broke. Many ambulance sirens could be heard along with chants from the Mela. Relatives rushed to see their loved ones in the hospital.
People from different states shared their experiences. Sarojini from Karnataka described how she and her group got trapped in the crowd and fell. Others recounted their struggles during the chaos. The leader of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, Mahant Ravindra Puri, mentioned that the traditional bathing ritual had to be postponed due to overcrowding, though he did not directly acknowledge the stampede.
As per Kumbh Mela tradition, the akharas take a holy dip in a specific order. The Triveni Sangam, where the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet, is especially sacred to Hindus. Many believe that bathing there during the Maha Kumbh purifies them and grants salvation.
On Tuesday, the Mela administration warned pilgrims to follow safety rules to avoid chaos. They urged visitors to stay in designated lanes and move quickly after their dip, reminding everyone that all ghats are holy and to bathe at the first one they reach.
The Maha Kumbh is a major event held every 12 years. It started on January 13 and will continue until February 26. The Uttar Pradesh government expects around 400 million pilgrims to attend this huge spiritual gathering.
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