• Mou Mou
• 29 Jan, 2025

A tragic stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela has resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people with several hundred injured. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief and indirectly criticised the Uttar Pradesh administration stating, “We learned from Gangasagar.”

Context

The incident occurred during the Mouni Amavasya holy dip when an uncontrollable crowd surge led to chaos, causing many to be trampled. In response to the tragedy 13 Akharas cancelled the scheduled rituals. A large police force has been deployed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to UP CM Yogi Adityanath regarding the situation.

Mamata Banerjee drawing a comparison with Gangasagar Mela highlighted the importance of structured crowd management for large religious gatherings. Expressing sorrow, she said, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives. My thoughts are with the affected families.”

Historical Context

Mahakumbh stampedes have been a recurring tragedy. The worst incident dates back to 1954 in Prayagraj, where nearly 800 pilgrims lost their lives during Mouni Amavasya. Similar disasters followed,

- 1986 (Haridwar): 200 deaths due to a stampede triggered by security restrictions.

- 2003 (Nashik): 39 dead, 100 injured in a stampede near Godavari river.

- 2013 (Prayagraj): 42 killed after a railway bridge collapse during the Kumbh Mela.

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Now in 2025 another disaster has struck with reports of at least 15 fatalities following a crowd surge that broke through a barricade around 2 AM. Authorities are on high alert and an official death toll is yet to be confirmed.

With millions gathering at the Kumbh Mela crowd control remains a challenge. This latest tragedy serves as a reminder of the urgent need for better safety measures in such grand religious congregations.