A tragic stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Mauni Amavasya has claimed the lives of 30 people and left 60 others injured. The incident occurred when overcrowding led to chaos during the mass bathing ritual at the Sangam.
Among the deceased was Reena Yadav, a 56-year-old woman from Mirzapur, who had been living with her husband in Prayagraj for the last 15 years. Reena’s daughter, a CBI officer in Gujarat, is among her surviving family members. Tragically, Reena had left home alone to take a holy dip at Sangam but was crushed in the stampede.
Another victim, Indravati Pandey (60) from Mirzapur, was also injured in the stampede but received treatment at a local hospital and was later discharged.
Following the tragic incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued strict crowd management guidelines to prevent further chaos. He directed that five Special Secretary-level officers be deployed to oversee operations in Prayagraj until February 12, 2025. Additionally, Superintendent of Police-level officers will ensure enhanced security.
In light of the disaster, CM Yogi Adityanath has asked the Chief Secretary and DGP to thoroughly review the arrangements at the Mahakumbh Mela. His focus is on improving security, traffic management, and public convenience, especially for the upcoming Basant Panchami celebrations.
