Stampede at Maha Kumbh: Casualties Feared, 30 Injured as Akharas Skip Holy Dip

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A stampede-like situation at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on Mauni Amavasya morning left around 30 women injured, leading Akharas to cancel their sacred dip. As millions of devotees gathered for the ‘Amrit Snan,’ barricades collapsed near the ‘Sangam,’ causing some women to faint, triggering the chaos. Injured individuals were rushed to hospitals, with severely wounded cases shifted to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College.

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri confirmed that seers decided to skip their ritual bath after the incident. Akhara Parishad General Secretary Mahant Hari Giri urged devotees to take a dip wherever possible and return home safely.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, directing immediate relief efforts. Authorities shut pontoon bridges to prevent similar mishaps as crowds continued to swell. By Tuesday, five crore devotees had already arrived, with the number expected to rise to 10 crore.

To manage the influx, AI-powered surveillance, drone monitoring, and additional police forces have been deployed. The Prayagraj administration has declared the fairgrounds a no-vehicle zone, urging locals to use two-wheelers only when necessary. Indian Railways has arranged 360 trains, including 190 special ones, to facilitate the movement of pilgrims.

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is a key Maha Kumbh ritual, made even more significant this year due to the rare ‘Triveni Yog’ celestial alignment, occurring once every 144 years. As per tradition, Akharas belonging to Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen sects lead a grand procession before taking a holy dip at the Sangam Ghat.

Authorities have stationed over 1,000 medical personnel, including 300 specialists at a super-specialty hospital, ensuring emergency preparedness. The government also planned to shower 25 quintals of rose petals on devotees from helicopters.

The Maha Kumbh 2025 has already witnessed over 15 crore pilgrims taking a holy dip. On Tuesday alone, 4.80 crore devotees performed the ritual, surpassing Makar Sankranti’s turnout of 3.5 crore. The grand event began on January 13 and will continue until February 26.

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