Prayagraj, January 29: A stampede at the Sangam ghat during the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday led to the deaths of at least 30 people, with several others injured. The Uttar Pradesh government confirmed the toll 17 hours after the incident.
At a press briefing held at 6:30 PM, Mela Officer Vijay Kiran Anand and DIG Vaibhav Krishna provided updates on the situation. DIG Krishna stated that 30 devotees had lost their lives, while 60 others sustained injuries. He added that 25 of the deceased had been identified.
Among those who died, 19 were from Uttar Pradesh, four from Karnataka, and one each from Gujarat and Assam. According to officials, the chaos began when some barricades at the ghat collapsed, causing people to fall onto devotees resting on the ground. This led to panic and a sudden rush, resulting in the tragedy.
Following the incident, authorities decided to suspend VIP protocols at the event. Vijay Kiran Anand stated that efforts were underway to facilitate the return of pilgrims. He declined to take further questions during the briefing.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of the deceased. The stampede occurred as devotees waited for the Mauni Amavasya holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
Authorities are continuing rescue and relief operations while investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.
