A devastating stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj has claimed at least 30 lives and left 60 others injured, raising serious concerns over the failure of the government and event organizers to manage the massive gathering. The tragedy unfolded between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. when an uncontrollable crowd broke through barricades, triggering chaos and casualties. Despite the scale of the disaster, the Uttar Pradesh government has remained largely silent, failing to provide clear details on the extent of the loss.

The incident occurred at the Sangam area during the Mauni Amavasya holy dip, one of the most significant rituals of the festival, drawing crores of devotees. With inadequate crowd control and ineffective security measures, the situation spiraled out of control, exposing glaring lapses in planning. Security personnel and rescue workers were seen scrambling to carry the injured on stretchers, while scattered belongings painted a grim picture of the catastrophe.

While condolences poured in from President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other political leaders, no concrete action or accountability has been taken. The deferred ‘amrit snan’ ritual resumed at 2:30 p.m., though in a subdued manner, with Mahant Ravindra Puri leading the procession. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged that some devotees were “seriously injured” but offered no explanation for the administrative failure that led to this disaster.

The Maha Kumbh, meant to be a sacred and well-organized event, has instead become a symbol of negligence, with innocent lives lost due to poor planning and mismanagement. As grieving families search for answers, the lack of accountability from authorities continues to fuel outrage.
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