Prayagraj: At least 30 people are confirmed dead in the stampede that broke out at Mahakumbh Mela in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.
Over 60 people who suffered injuries are undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Addressing a press conference in the evening, DIG Kumbhmela Vaibhav Krishna said that barricades broke after a large number of people gathered on the Akhara route in the wee hours of Wednesday ahead of the ‘Brahm Muhurta’ for the holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.
“On the Mauni Amavasya Snan (bath), between 1 and 2 am ahead of the Brahm Muhurta, a huge crowd gathered on the Akhara route, because of which the barricades on the other side broke. The crowd on this side crossed to the other side and started running over devotees waiting for Brahm Muhurta… The administration quickly enforced rescue operation and created a green corridor for ambulances, and took 90 injured to the hospitals. Unfortunately, 30 of those devotees have died,” Krishna said.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who said in the morning the situation was under control and appealed to everyone not to spread rumours, got emotional this evening when details were provide on casualties in the stampede.
“The incident is heart-wrenching… We express our deepest condolences to all those families who lost their loved ones. We have been in constant touch with the administration since last night. The Mela Authority, Police, Administration, NDRF, SDRF and all other arrangements that could be made have been deployed there,” Yogi said.
Yogi Adityanath orders Judicial Inquiry
The CM informed that the state government has decided to set up a judicial inquiry to probe the tragic incident.
“We have formed a 3-member judicial commission headed by Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retired IAS DK Singh,” said Yogi.
“We have been monitoring the entire incident from the Chief Minister’s control room, the Chief Secretary’s control room, and the DGP’s control room throughout the day. Meetings went on throughout the day and there was continuous communication with the administration regarding the incidents. Since the morning, we have been receiving necessary guidelines from Prime Minister, Home Minister, national president JP Nadda, Railway Minister, Governor and others,” he added.
Rs 25 lakh each for families of victims
The chief minister announced financial assistance to the families of the deceased.
“We are also announcing financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased who have lost their lives in the accident on behalf of the state government. The judicial commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit. In this regard, the Chief Secretary and the DGP will themselves visit Prayagraj and look into all those issues if required,” Yogi stated.
January 29 was one of the most auspicious days to take a holy dip at Mahakumbh on the occasion of ‘Mauni Amavasya’ which falls on the Hindu calendar day of Magh Krishna Amavasya.
Devotees believe that on this day, the water of the holy rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati — turns into ‘Amrit.’
