In the Sangam area of Mahakumbh, a stampede on Wednesday resulted in the tragic deaths of over 10 people and left many injured. Millions of devotees were seeking a place for a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The Uttar Pradesh government did not disclose casualty counts, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep condolences to the grieving families and described the tragedy as profoundly sad.
Meanwhile, a controversial and insensitive remark from a UP minister surfaced, where he referred to the incident as minor mishaps that occur occasionally. Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad commented, "Devotees should take a bath where there's space. With such a large gathering and management, minor incidents happen."
However, following criticism, the minister clarified his statement, calling it a slip of the tongue. He expressed sorrow over the incident and stated that nobody is undermining the event's seriousness, acknowledging it as a major incident.
Opposition Criticism
Opposition leaders have continuously questioned the UP government's management concerning the incident. Akhilesh Yadav demanded that those boasting of 'world-class arrangements' for the Mahakumbh take moral responsibility for the stampede and resign. He stated, "To restore confidence among the saint community and devotees in the arrangements of Mahakumbh, it is essential that the administration and management of Mahakumbh be immediately transferred from the UP government to the army."
Read also: Mahakumbh Stampede: PM Modi Mourns Prayagraj Tragedy Victims
Yadav further stated, "Now that the truth of the world-class arrangements is visible to everyone, those who promoted such false claims should take moral responsibility for the loss of lives and resign."
UP Congress leader Ajay Rai expressed sorrow over the stampede, stating, "It is tragic that the stampede caused multiple deaths and injuries on the day of Mauni Amavasya at the Mahakumbh. This unfortunate incident exposes the chaos of this fair and the UP government's failures. The Yogi government spent all the money on its branding and marketing, not on the arrangements for the devotees attending Mahakumbh, highlighting the insensitivity of this government."
Read also: Mahakumbh Stampede: Why Crowd Control is Challenging? Insights from Experts
Mamata Banerjee Reacts
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj witnessed a stampede situation early in the morning, resulting in the death of "at least 15 pilgrims." She extended her condolences to the bereaved families. Banerjee wrote on her social media, "Saddened to learn about the tragic stampede at Mahakumbh in which at least 15 lives were lost. My thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families. From our Gangasagar Mela, I learned that maximum planning and care concerning the lives of pilgrims must be ensured in massive gatherings. Praying for the departed souls."
Bengal Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also expressed grief over the incident, stating, "Feeling immense pain. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh had proclaimed 'faith with economy.' A figure of 2 lakh crore was also mentioned. The government's focus remained more on the economy and VIPs, not on facilities, leading to the loss of lives of devotees."
