A tragic stampede at the Kumbh Mela in northern India claimed the lives of at least 15 people in the early hours of Wednesday, with many more injured.
The incident occurred at the world’s largest religious gathering, held along the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh.
How Did the Tragedy Unfold?
On Wednesday, millions of devotees gathered for a sacred bath, one of the holiest days of the six-week festival.
A doctor at the festival’s hospital confirmed, “At least 15 people have died so far, and others are being treated.” The doctor, speaking anonymously, stated they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.
The stampede started when crowd control barriers collapsed, leading to a surge of worshippers pushing forward. Local government official Akanksha Rana confirmed, “The stampede occurred when the barricades failed, causing chaos among the pilgrims.”
Eyewitness Accounts
Malti Pandey, a 42-year-old devotee, described the terrifying moment: “Suddenly, the crowd started pushing, and many people were crushed.”
Security Measures Failed to Prevent Disaster
The Kumbh Mela is one of Hinduism’s most significant religious events, where devotees bathe in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to cleanse their sins. However, following the tragedy, officials closed the main bathing sites and urged pilgrims to stay away.
Many worshippers, including Sanjay Nishad and his family, decided to leave the festival early fearing more incidents.
Past Disasters at Kumbh Mela
This is not the first time a stampede has occurred at the Kumbh Mela. Given the presence of millions of attendees, past events have also witnessed similar tragedies:
- In 1954, a deadly stampede killed over 400 people.
- In 2013, another crowd crush led to 36 deaths.
Authorities Under Scrutiny
To prevent such incidents, the government had deployed hundreds of surveillance cameras, drones, and crowd-monitoring systems. However, the tragedy highlights the immense challenge of managing such a massive gathering.
Despite increased safety measures, the scale and density of the crowd make the Kumbh Mela one of the most difficult religious events to manage, where any lapse in control can lead to disaster.
