2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela stampede
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (January 2025) |
| Part of 2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela | |
 | |
  Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela stampede  Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela stampede | |
| Date | 29 January 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 25°25′53″N 81°53′17″E / 25.431388°N 81.887971°E |
| Also known as | 2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela Crowd collapses |
| Type | Crowd collapses and Stampede |
| Cause | Broken barrier |
| Deaths | 30–59 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 60–200 |
On 29 January 2025, crowd collapses occurred at the 2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela[1][2] at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj,[3] in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. At least 30[4] people were killed, while 60 others were injured.
Background
[edit]The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu festival which is held every 12 years[5] and lasts for around six weeks. It is considered as one of the most important festivals in the Hindu religious calendar. The 2025 edition was expected to see 400 million people in attendance. Multiple crowd crushes have occurred during the festival, with at least 400 people dying in the 1954 edition and 42 killed in 2013.[6]
Incident
[edit]The incident occurred during the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya,[7] which was regarded as the most important day of the festival.[8] On the day of the incident, around 100 million people were expected to be in attendance.[5] The crush started at around 1 am IST, when the crowd surged forward to bathe at the confluence of three rivers, which is considered the holiest place to bathe.[3][9] The festival's special executive officer Akanksha Rana said the incident began after a festival barrier broke,[6] while Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath blamed the incident on devotees trying to cross over barricades delineating the designated bathing area for akharas.[9]
As pilgrims tried to escape from the site of the first crush, which officials said was "not serious", they were caught up in another crowd crush at an exit. They then returned towards the pontoon bridges looking for another exit, generating another crush when it was found that the bridges had been closed by authorities.[6] Some attendees resorted to jumping over barricades.[5] Officials tried to divert incoming crowds away from the site of the crush and told them using megaphones to bathe at other locations but were sidelined by attendees.[10]
Casualties
[edit]Conflicting reports emerged over the number of casualties, with the number of deaths ranging from 15 people to 50, and the number of injured estimated to be at least 200. British newspaper The Guardian reported that at least 39 people were killed, with the death toll expected to rise.[4] A sting operation conducted by 4PM news network, reported the death toll as 58.[11] The victims were transported to makeshift hospitals at the festival site as well as a hospital in Prayagraj city.[6][9]
Some of them were sleeping on the river bank when they were trampled on by other worshippers trying to bathe.[12] Others sleeping on the river bank were beaten with wooden sticks by police trying to move them before the crowds arrived.[13]
Response
[edit]The Rapid Action Force was deployed to the scene. In a phone call with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for "immediate support measures".[6] He later expressed condolences to the victims.[10] Several Akharas decided to cancel their participation in the Amrit Snan.[14]
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi blamed the incident on "mismanagement" and a "focus on VIP movement" by organisers, which were also part of recurring complaints by ordinary attendees.[13]
Despite the crush, the festival continued, with about 30 million people having taken a bath in the area by 8 am on 29 January.[15]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Kumbh Mela: Worshippers feared killed in crowd crush at huge Indian religious festival". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Regan, Helen (29 January 2025). "Several injured in crowd crush at India's Kumbh Mela religious festival". CNN. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b Livingstone, Helen (29 January 2025). "India crowd crushes: dozens feared dead at Kumbh Mela religious festival – latest updates". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b Belam, Martin; Lamb, Kate; Livingstone, Helen (29 January 2025). "Police in India confirm 30 dead and 60 injured in the stampede at Maha Kumbh". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Several people are feared dead in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India". AP News. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "At least 15 killed in stampede at India's Kumbh Mela festival". ABC News. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Kent, Helen Regan, Lauren (29 January 2025). "Multiple people killed in crowd crush at world's largest religious festival". CNN. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Thirty killed in crowd crush at India's Kumbh Mela festival". BBC. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b c Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (29 January 2025). "Dozens feared dead in India at Kumbh Mela religious festival". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Dozens of worshippers killed in stampede at world's largest religious festival in India". France 24. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Yadav, Yogesh (30 January 2025). "महाकुंभ में हुई भगदड़ का मामला पहुंचा सुप्रीम कोर्ट, याचिका दाखिल". 4PM. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ "Worshippers killed in India stampede at world's largest religious festival". France 24. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Crowd chaos and confusion at site of India festival stampede". France 24. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Akharas cancel Mauni Amavasya 'Amrit Snan' after 'stampede-like' situation at Mahakumbh, casualties feared". The Print. 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Police say at least 30 people have died in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India". AP News. 29 January 2025.