Many feared dead, scores injured in stampede in Mahakumbh

Lucknow: Many devotees are believed to have died in a stampede at the Sangam nose in Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, where a large crowd had gathered to participate in the second Amrit Snan on the festival of Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday morning.

However, till the time of reporting this story, the Mela government has not confirmed any casualties. Ambulances were dispatched swiftly, and the injured were taken to Mela's central hospital for treatment.

According to local sources, some women devotees were suffocated in the large crowd and collapsed as a barricade was destroyed, resulting in the stampede. Following the recent event, the Akharas have chosen to postpone the Amrit Snan programme.

Ravindra Puri, the chairman of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), stated that the Mauni Amavasya Snan will be rescheduled, with the third Amrit Snan now slated for Basant Panchami on February 3.

Speaking from the Niranjani Akhara, Puri explained that in response to the stampede, the Akharas have chosen to desist from taking the holy dip and will instead return to their camps, as the movement of the Akhara procession might potentially intensify the situation, TNIE reported.

Following the declaration by the Akhara Parishad chief, the Nirwani Akhara called its procession of seers back to the camp. Similarly, the Juna Akhara opted not to let its procession proceed following the decision to cancel the Snan.

Due to the growing crowd, the Mela and Prayagraj district administrations stopped devotees from entering the Mela grounds and sent them back. Meanwhile, a relief and rescue operation was underway, with around 40 ambulances transporting injured people from the event location to the central hospital.

The large crowds at the ghats made it difficult for the authorities to control the situation. Announcements were issued over the public address system, advising devotees to leave the ghats.

Authorities had expected approximately 10 crore visitors to the Sangam for the Amrit Snan, and the state has previously implemented increased security and crowd management measures.

A seven-tier security system was implemented, with the administration ordering devotees to return from the ghats where they had arrived to have a dip, rather than proceeding to the Mela grounds.