Tragedy Strikes Kumbh Mela: Families Mourn as Stampede Claims 30 Lives
The sacred waters of the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, turned into a site of unimaginable grief as a stampede during the holy bathing ritual claimed the lives of at least 30 pilgrims and left dozens injured. The incident, which occurred during the auspicious Mauni Amavasya snan, has left families shattered and raised questions about crowd management at one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
Kaikeyi Devi, who traveled from Bihar with her husband to participate in the Maha Kumbh, recounted the harrowing moments when chaos erupted. “She was dragged in the chaos, and we started to cry … ‘Release her! Leave her! We’re here!’ … but she never [came back],” Devi told Reuters as she waited outside the morgue in Prayagraj to claim her husband’s body.
the stampede reportedly began when a surge of pilgrims trampled over those who were sleeping near the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Taposh Roy, who came from Assam with his brother, described the lack of immediate medical assistance. “He only lay there for a long time as no ambulance took him to the hospital. We begged the police, saying we would carry him ourselves, but they told us to wait. When he was brought by the police, we could not go with him,” Roy told the Indian Express.
Tarun Bose, a resident of West Bengal, lost his sister in the tragedy.”The authorities failed to save him, and the police only managed to evacuate his body after an hour and a half. There were no police officers around the accident,” he told AFP.
For Deepak hattarwat from Karnataka, the loss was even more devastating. He lost his wife and daughter, whose deaths were confirmed a day later by a traveling companion. “We were planning her wedding.What should I do and for whom should I live now?” Hattarwat lamented to the Indian Express.
Meanwhile,some families are still searching for their loved ones more than 48 hours after the incident. Manoj Kumar Sahni from Bihar has been desperately looking for his missing father. “I have been looking for him for the past three days. I also went to the hospital but did not find him. We searched at the train station and bus stop but to no avail,” he told reuters.In response to the tragedy, authorities have heightened security measures and prohibited vehicles from entering the Mela area until february 4. The next holy bath is scheduled for Monday, with expectations of an even larger crowd.
Key Details of the Kumbh mela Stampede
Table of Contents
- Unimaginable Grief at the Kumbh Mela: A Tragedy That Shook the Nation
-
- Q: Could you describe the incident and its immediate aftermath?
- Q: What were the challenges faced by the injured and their families?
- Q: How did the authorities respond to the tragedy?
- Q: What is the personal impact on the families of the victims?
- Q: Are there still families searching for their loved ones?
- Key Details of the Kumbh Mela Stampede
-
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Location | sangam, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh |
| Date | February 1, 2025 |
| Casualties | 30 dead, 60 injured |
| Cause | Surge of pilgrims trampling over sleeping devotees |
| Response | Increased security, vehicle ban in Mela area until February 4 |
The Kumbh Mela, a centuries-old tradition, is a testament to the faith of millions. Yet, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in managing such massive gatherings. As families mourn their loved ones, the nation reflects on the need for better safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Unimaginable Grief at the Kumbh Mela: A Tragedy That Shook the Nation
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj became a site of unimaginable grief as a stampede during the holy bathing ritual claimed the lives of at least 30 pilgrims and left dozens injured. The incident,which occurred during the auspicious Mauni Amavasya snan,has left families shattered and raised critical questions about crowd management at one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
Q: Could you describe the incident and its immediate aftermath?
Kaikeyi Devi, a pilgrim from Bihar, recounted the harrowing moments when chaos erupted. ”She was dragged in the chaos, and we started to cry … ‘Release her! Leave her! We’re here!’ … but she never [came back],” Devi told Reuters as she waited outside the morgue in Prayagraj to claim her husband’s body. The stampede reportedly began when a surge of pilgrims trampled over those who were sleeping near the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
Q: What were the challenges faced by the injured and their families?
Taposh Roy, who came from Assam with his brother, described the lack of immediate medical assistance. “He only lay there for a long time as no ambulance took him to the hospital. We begged the police,saying we woudl carry him ourselves,but they told us to wait.When he was brought by the police, we could not go with him,” Roy told the Indian Express.
Tarun Bose, a resident of West Bengal, lost his sister in the tragedy. “The authorities failed to save her, and the police only managed to evacuate her body after an hour and a half.There were no police officers around the accident,” he told AFP. In response, authorities have heightened security measures and prohibited vehicles from entering the Mela area until February 4.
Q: What is the personal impact on the families of the victims?
For Deepak Hattarwat from Karnataka, the loss was even more devastating. He lost his wife and daughter, whose deaths were confirmed a day later by a traveling companion. “We were planning her wedding. What should I do and for whom should I live now?” hattarwat lamented to the Indian express.
Q: Are there still families searching for their loved ones?
Yes, some families are still searching for their loved ones more than 48 hours after the incident. Manoj Kumar Sahni from Bihar has been desperately looking for his missing father. “I have been looking for him for the past three days. I also went to the hospital but did not find him. We searched at the train station and bus stop but to no avail,” he told Reuters.
Key Details of the Kumbh Mela Stampede
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Sangam,Prayagraj,Uttar Pradesh |
| Date | February 1,2025 |
| Casualties | 30 dead,60 injured |
| Cause | surge of pilgrims trampling over sleeping devotees |
| Response | Increased security,vehicle ban in Mela area until February 4 |
The Kumbh Mela, a centuries-old tradition, is a testament to the faith of millions. Yet, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in managing such massive gatherings. As families mourn their loved ones, the nation reflects on the need for better safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
