Ujjwal Raman Singh, a Member of Parliament from Allahabad, raised the issue of the stampede during the holy bath (Amrit Snan) at the Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya, demanding that both the central and UP governments apologize to the public for their failure in managing the event.
During a debate on the President's Address in the Lok Sabha, the Congress MP expressed condolences to the victims and accused the government of prioritizing publicity over proper arrangements.
He questioned, "The Chief Ministers and ministers of the 'double engine' government extensively promoted this Maha Kumbh and invited people from all over the country. But upon arrival, the visitors were left to their fate. Is this governance or sheer incompetence?"
Ujjwal Raman Singh identified two primary causes of the stampede— closure of pontoon bridges that disrupted smooth crowd movement and excessive VIP movement, which posed significant obstacles.
He questioned, "People were forced to walk barefoot for 20 kilometers at night without any resting place, toilets, or drinking water facilities. Exhausted pilgrims, unaware of the impending chaos, lay on the ground out of fatigue. Knowing that a large number of people were gathering at the Sangam Noses, why were they not redirected in time? Was there a fear that the substandard wooden sleepers used in pontoon bridges would collapse?"
The Congress MP also alleged large-scale corruption in the preparations. Criticizing the government, Ujjwal Raman said, "What does the government want to prove? That the lives of the poor don't matter? Tell me, did any VIP die in this stampede? Did a billionaire lose their life? The victims were ordinary pilgrims, 'farmers, laborers, and the poor.'”
The MP stated, "Instead of taking responsibility, some are promoting that these deaths offer 'salvation.' If so, then why don't those enjoying government benefits seek such salvation themselves?"
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Reiterating that the tragedy could have been averted if the government had heeded the warnings, Ujjwal Raman Singh claimed that they had been warning officials and the media about insufficient preparations for over a year, but no corrective action was taken.
He said, "Not once was I invited to any official planning meeting where I could share my insights. Everything was left to the last minute, leading to disorganized and catastrophic implementation."
Allahabad MP's claim - Chaos erupted in Jhunsi, bodies were thrown into piles of debris
The Congress MP alleged that chaos also erupted in Jhunsi, claiming the lives of several devotees. He stated that the administration attempted to conceal these deaths. 'Stampedes occurred in three places. The government is not prepared to reveal how many stampedes happened, how many people died, how many got separated, or mention any names. Of the 30 pontoon bridges, 27 were closed from the 27th, causing disruption. People who had walked a long distance lay on the sand there. People sleeping in one direction and a crowd deluge in another.'
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He mentioned that JCBs were used to remove people's belongings. This was not a VIP fair; it's the Maha Kumbh of common devotees. But the voices of the saints were drowned out by the sirens and hooters of VIP vehicles.
Be informed that during the Maha Kumbh, a stampede on Mauni Amavasya in the Sangam area of Prayagraj claimed at least 30 lives and left 60 others injured. The Maha Kumbh began on January 13 and will continue till February 26 at the banks of Triveni Sangam.
