In Prayagraj, at the Maha Kumbh on Tuesday midnight, the crowd pressure increased so much that it led to a stampede. Due to the chaos at Sangam Nose, more than 10 people lost their lives, and seven were injured. The injured have been admitted to a hospital in the Kumbh region’s Sector 2. Due to this tragic event and the overwhelming crowd, the Amrit Snan has been canceled.
During the discussion about these circumstances, the Mahant Premanand Puri of Panchayati Akhara Shri Niranjani suddenly broke into tears. He stated, 'We had already emphasized that the Army should be responsible for the Kumbh’s security, but nobody listened. The administrative failure has tarnished the Kumbh. After such a large number of people arrived, it was not a task police could handle. Consequently, tragedy struck, taking some father’s son, leaving another without someone. It’s tragic news, and it deeply distresses me. I told my companions in the Akhara not to announce this incident publicly there. Ask your followers to calmly return to their camps so as not to trigger a stampede.'
He further added, 'If the Kumbh had been entrusted to the Army, I do not think such a massive tragedy would have occurred. I am extremely saddened, extremely heartbroken.'
It is worth noting that since January 13, around 150 million people have taken a dip in the Ganges during the Maha Kumbh. On Wednesday, on Mauni Amavasya itself, over 100 million devotees were expected to participate, but this incident has altered these expectations somewhat.
Due to the passion for bathing on Mauni Amavasya, the Maha Kumbh city has once again transformed into the world’s largest district. The population of Prayagraj surpassed 50 million. By 6 p.m. on Tuesday, 46.4 million devotees had bathed, creating a new record. Adding the district’s population of approximately 7 million, the one-day tally in Prayagraj was recorded at 53.4 million.
