A chaotic stampede in the Mahakumbh at the Sangam region on Wednesday led to the unfortunate demise of over 10 people, leaving many injured. Millions of pilgrims were in search of a sacred spot for a holy dip on the occasion of Paush Amavasya. Although the Uttar Pradesh government has not revealed the total casualties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences to those who lost their loved ones and labeled this tragedy as utterly sorrowful.
Meanwhile, a controversial and insensitive comment from a UP minister has been made public, where he remarked that such minor incidents do happen. Sanjay Nishad, a cabinet minister in the UP government, stated, "Pilgrims should bathe wherever there is space. Where there is such a huge crowd and massive management, such minor incidents do occur."
However, following criticism, the minister issued an explanation noting that it was a slip of the tongue and the statement was made by mistake. Everyone is saddened by the incident and does not dismiss it as minor. This is indeed a grave incident.
Opposition Leaders Make it an Issue
Opposition leaders continue to raise questions about the UP government's arrangements regarding the incident. Akhilesh Yadav demanded that those claiming 'world-class arrangements' at the Mahakumbh should take moral responsibility for the stampede and resign from their posts. He insisted that the administration and management of Mahakumbh should be immediately handed over to the army instead of the UP government to restore faith among the saint community and pilgrims.
Also Read: Mahakumbh Stampede: PM Modi expresses Condolences on the Stampede in Prayagraj's Mahakumbh
He further stated, 'Now that the truth behind the claims of world-class arrangements is out, those who were making such claims and propagating falsehoods should take moral responsibility for the deaths in this accident and resign.' Ajay Rai of UP Congress expressed grief over the stampede, saying, "It is tragic to know about several deaths and injuries on the day of Paush Amavasya at Mahakumbh due to the stampede. This unfortunate event exposes the disorganized fair and failures of the Uttar Pradesh government. The Yogi government spent all its money only on branding and marketing, not on the arrangements for pilgrims attending the Mahakumbh. This reflects the insensitivity of this government."
Also Read: Mahakumbh Stampede: Why is it Difficult to Control a Stampede? Understand the Crowd's Thinking from Experts
Mamata Banerjee Makes a Post Too
West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Wednesday that at least 15 pilgrims died in a stampede-like situation at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. She expressed condolences to the bereaved families, writing on her X handle, "I am deeply saddened to learn about the tragic stampede at Mahakumbh where at least 15 innocent lives were lost. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the bereaved pilgrims. From our Gangasagar fair, I learned that when dealing with massive crowds, utmost planning and care regarding the pilgrim's lives are crucial. Prayers for the departed souls."
Senior leader of Bengal Congress, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, also expressed his sorrow over the incident. He stated, "Feeling immense pain. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister promised faith combined with economy. A figure of 2 lakh crore was mentioned. The government's focus remained on the economy and VIPs more than services, resulting in pilgrims losing their lives."
