PRAYAGRAJ, India — A staggering tragedy unfolded on Wednesday as at least 30 individuals lost their lives and numerous others were injured in a stampede during the world’s largest religious congregation, the Maha Kumbh festival, occurring in northern India. According to police reports, the chaotic scene unfolded early in the day when millions of pilgrims hurried to immerse themselves in the sacred waters.
Local police official Vaibhav Krishna revealed that around 60 additional victims sustained injuries and were quickly transported to medical facilities. Wednesday held particular religious significance during the six-week-long festival, prompting expectations that approximately 100 million devotees would partake in a ritual bath at the sacred confluence of three rivers: the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. Hindus believe that bathing in these waters during the festival can cleanse them of their past sins and assist them in breaking the cycle of reincarnation.
This unfortunate stampede erupted as a surge of pilgrims attempted to bypass barriers that had been set up for a procession featuring holy men. Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, confirmed the circumstances surrounding the crowd rush in a televised update. The primary allure of the event is the extraordinary processions led by ash-smeared ascetics heading to the confluence to bathe.
The government took over 16 hours to release official casualty figures, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the losses, labeling the incident as “extremely sad” and offering his condolences to the victims’ families. A witness, Sarojini, recounted the harrowing experience: “Suddenly, we were pushed in the crowd, and we got trapped. Many people fell, and we could not control the chaos,” she stated. Distressed families gathered outside a makeshift medical facility, anxiously seeking news about their missing relatives. The area was littered with personal belongings such as clothing, blankets, and bags.
Despite the chaos, millions of pilgrims continued to flock to the vast 4,000-hectare pilgrimage site, although authorities repeatedly appealed through loudspeakers for them to steer clear of the confluence, urging attendees to seek other bathing locations. Adityanath reassured the public that while the situation was under control, the crowds were still overwhelming, estimating between 90 million and 100 million attendees.
By 8 a.m. on Wednesday, approximately 30 million participants had already engaged in the sacred bath. The Maha Kumbh festival, which takes place every twelve years, commenced on January 13. Authorities anticipate that over 400 million individuals will visit the site during the entire festival, with nearly 150 million already recorded, including high-profile guests such as Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and celebrities like Chris Martin of Coldplay.
In preparation to accommodate the massive influx of visitors, a vast tent city has been constructed along the riverbanks, featuring necessary infrastructure like roads, electricity, and water supply. The festival boasts around 3,000 kitchens and 11 hospitals to serve the needs of pilgrims. To ensure safety and manage the large crowds, about 50,000 security personnel have been deployed across the area, accompanied by over 2,500 surveillance cameras monitoring the movement and density of crowds to forestall potential disasters.
Criticism arose from several opposition politicians regarding the handling of the event by both the federal and state government, which are under the administration of Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. They pointed to “mismanagement” and a “VIP culture” that they claim prioritizes the needs of influential individuals over ordinary devotees. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi urged for enhanced arrangements to better accommodate the common worshippers.
This 45-day festival is of immense cultural importance to India’s Hindus, who represent nearly 80% of the nation’s population exceeding 1.4 billion. It serves not only as a crucial spiritual event but also as an occasion to showcase Modi’s ruling party, which emphasizes Hindu cultural heritage. The Maha Kumbh festival has witnessed tragic stampedes in its history, with the 2013 festival resulting in 40 deaths during a stampede at Prayagraj’s train station.
Deadly stampedes are not uncommon in the context of religious gatherings in India, where substantial crowds often engulf limited spaces. Just this past July, a stampede at a religious event in northern India led to the deaths of at least 116 people, predominantly women and children, as thousands surged into a tent camp in Hathras.
