The second Amrit Bath festival of Mahakumbh is attracting countless devotees. Pilgrims from across the nation are arriving in Prayagraj. However, chaos ensued as sudden crowds emerged at the Sangam Nose, leading to panic and injury reports. Presently, seven people are known to be injured and have been admitted to the hospital in sector 2 of the Kumbh area.
Stay updated with all the live developments here:
- Due to the chaos at Sangam, today's Amrit Bath has been cancelled by the Akhara Council.
- The fair administration has requested Akhara Council President Ravindrapuri to pause the Amrit Bath, which currently stands suspended.
Source: aajtak
- Reports suggest that after the chaos, the Amrit Bath is temporarily halted. The akharas are returning to their camps.
- Special Executive Officer of Kumbh Mela Authority, Akanksha Rana stated, 'Some barriers on the Sangam route broke down, causing a stampede-like situation. People sustained injuries, but there's no serious condition.'
- The incident occurred at the Sangam Nose between poles number 11 to 17. Injured individuals are continuously being brought by ambulance to the central hospital located at the fairground.
- Many got injured during the commotion at Sangam Nose, with many families losing contact. Families from Assam and Meghalaya reported a sudden outbreak of panic, resulting in numerous people falling together, causing injuries to around 30 to 40 people. However, the exact injury count remains unconfirmed.
- A woman mentioned her relative was injured in the chaos and explained it started with someone exclaiming 'people have died,' after which she fell. 'We didn’t see anyone die, but some said deaths occurred here, which caused panic,' said one lady. Another pointed out the lack of administration control where people were moving, causing crushes as crowds surged from behind.
- Ambulances continue to arrive at the central hospital in the Kumbh Mela area with the injured receiving treatment.
On the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, an immense crowd of millions of devotees have descended upon Prayagraj to partake in the second Amrit Bath of Mahakumbh. It's estimated that over 10 million devotees may visit the Kumbh Mela today. Since its commencement on January 13th, approximately 150 million people have taken the holy dip in the Ganges.
One day prior to Mauni Amavasya, the wave of people had already started pouring into the Mahakumbh. Every nook and cranny of Prayagraj is full, from the streets to the railway stations and bus stands, every place is packed. The enthusiasm among the devotees is such that they are willing to endure any inconvenience in anticipation of Mauni Amavasya.
