In Prayagraj, the pressure of the crowd at the Maha Kumbh on Tuesday midnight surged to such an extent that chaos ensued. Reports indicate that over 10 people lost their lives, and seven were injured in the stampede near Sangam Nose due to the throng. The injured have been admitted to the hospital in Sector 2 of the Kumbh area. This tragic event and the overwhelming crowd led to the cancellation of the holy Amrit bath.
During discussions on the circumstances, Mahamandaleshwar Premanand Puri of Panchayati Akhara Shri Niranjani suddenly broke into tears. He said, 'We had already suggested handing over Kumbh's security to the army, but no one listened to us. The administrative arrangements have tainted the Kumbh. With such a massive crowd, it's beyond the police's capacity to manage. As a result, some have lost their sons, and others have lost loved ones. It’s heartbreaking news, and I am deeply distressed. I instructed my fellow members in the akhara to quietly inform their devotees to return to their camps, to avoid further chaos.'
He further commented, 'Had the Kumbh been in the army's hands, I don't think such a massive tragedy would have occurred. It's truly saddening, deeply saddening.'
It should be noted that since the commencement of the Maha Kumbh on January 13, approximately 150 million individuals have taken a holy dip in the Ganges. It was anticipated that over 100 million devotees would converge on the day of Mauni Amavasya, marking Wednesday. However, this incident has somewhat altered the situation.
The passion for bathing on Mauni Amavasya has once again made the Maha Kumbh city the world's largest district. Prayagraj's population has exceeded 50 million. By Tuesday evening, 46.4 million pilgrims had bathed, setting a new record. Adding the district's population of around 7 million, Prayagraj's population for the day was recorded at 53.4 million.
