Stampede at World’s Largest Religious Gathering Claims at Least 15 Lives
A stampede at the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious festival, has left at least 15 people dead and many others injured, a doctor at the event in northern India confirmed to YEPS News on Wednesday.
Report gathered by YEPS News indicates that deadly crowd accidents are a frequent occurrence at major Indian religious gatherings, including the Kumbh Mela, which draws millions of devotees every 12 years to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
The six-week festival is a pivotal event on the Hindu religious calendar, attracting massive crowds who come to take a ritual dip at the confluence of holy rivers.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Chaos
Pilgrim Renu Devi, 48, recounted the harrowing experience. “A huge crowd was moving down a promenade to reach the riverbanks. I was sitting near a barricade, and during the pushing and shoving, the entire crowd fell on top of me, trampling me as it moved forward,” she told YEPS News.
“When the crowd surged, elderly people and women were crushed, and no one came forward to help,” she added.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly, navigating through piles of discarded clothes, shoes, and other belongings left behind in the chaos. Police were seen carrying stretchers with bodies of victims draped in thick blankets.
A doctor at a nearby hospital treating survivors confirmed to YEPS News that “at least 15 people” had been killed. However, they spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Authorities have yet to officially confirm any fatalities from the incident, which occurred around 1:00 am (1930 GMT Tuesday).
‘Please Cooperate with Security’
Dozens of anxious relatives gathered outside a large temporary hospital set up for the festival, hoping for news about their loved ones.
Wednesday was meant to be one of the holiest days of the Kumbh Mela, with saffron-clad holy men leading millions of pilgrims in a ritual bathing procession at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
Instead, officials patrolled the festival grounds with loudhailers, urging attendees to avoid the disaster site and bathe at alternative locations.
“We humbly request all devotees not to come to the main bathing spot,” a festival official announced via megaphone. “Please cooperate with security personnel.”
The Uttar Pradesh state government reported that millions had already performed their sacred bath between midnight and early morning.
“It’s difficult to control such a huge number,” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath admitted.
Crowd Control Struggles and Emergency Measures
Report gathered by YEPS News also reveals that railway official Manish Kumar confirmed that numerous special train services scheduled to transport pilgrims had been halted due to overcrowding at Prayagraj.
Some attendees opted to leave early. “I heard the news and saw the bathing site,” said festival-goer Sanjay Nishad. “My family got scared, so we’re leaving.”
A History of Deadly Tragedies
The Kumbh Mela, deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolizes the celestial battle between deities and demons for control of a pitcher containing the nectar of immortality.
This year’s event has been likened to the scale of a temporary country, with organizers forecasting up to 400 million pilgrims before the festival concludes on February 26.
Authorities had implemented a vast surveillance system to mitigate the risk of deadly stampedes. Hundreds of cameras and drones were deployed, feeding data into a command center designed to detect potential overcrowding.
Despite these measures, stampedes have been a recurring tragedy at the festival. In 1954, over 400 people were killed in a single day due to trampling and drowning. More recently, in 2013, 36 people lost their lives in a similar incident in Prayagraj.
As investigations continue, the latest tragedy underscores the persistent challenges of managing massive religious gatherings in India.
AFP