A deadly stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India claimed the lives of at least seven people and injured around 10 others on Wednesday, as millions of devotees gathered for a sacred dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
The incident occurred around 1 AM local time when a surge in the crowd led to chaos near the riverbank. Witnesses described a powerful push from behind, causing people to fall on top of each other. Drone footage captured the immense crowd arriving in the pre-dawn darkness, while distressing images later showed bodies being carried away on stretchers amid scattered belongings left behind in the panic.
A woman survivor recounted how she and her mother were trampled in the crush. "People kept stepping on us. I am safe, but my mother has died," she told ANI.
Rescue Efforts and Government Response
Emergency teams, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), were deployed to restore order and assist the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, directing efforts to normalize the situation and provide relief. Adityanath urged devotees to use alternative bathing sites to prevent further crowding.
Despite the tragedy, pilgrims continued their holy dips elsewhere in the vast temporary city, which has already drawn nearly 200 million people over the past two weeks. Authorities had expected a record-breaking 100 million attendees on Wednesday due to a rare celestial alignment occurring for the first time in 144 years.
Criticism Over Crowd Management
Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge blamed the disaster on inadequate planning, excessive focus on VIP attendees, and mismanagement. "Half-baked arrangements and self-promotion over safety led to this tragedy," he posted on social media, calling for improved measures.
Authorities had implemented enhanced security, medical facilities, and AI-powered crowd monitoring, but the measures failed to prevent the stampede. Similar incidents have occurred in past Kumbh Melas, including a deadly 2013 stampede that left at least 36 pilgrims dead.
Despite the brief suspension of the "royal bath" following the incident, the ritual resumed later in the day as millions continued their religious observances.