Maha Kumbh highlights: Stampede probe hints at conspiracy, says BJP MP in Parliament

Maha Kumbh live: On Mahakumbh stampede, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says: "... People are looking for their family members. Neither the government is searching for them nor is it releasing the numbers... People are roaming around for 40-50 km, but the government is not giving any information... They are not able to tell about the no. of dead people in digits. They are counting in crores but are not able to tell the exact no. of dead bodies..."

Maha Kumbh live: In a serene display of faith and devotion, more than 12.5 million devotees took a holy dip on the third and last Shahi Snan of Mahakumbh as of 12pm on Monday. The third and last Shahi Snan is on the occasion of Basant Panchmi. Read more.

Maha Kumbh live: Targeting UP CM Yogi Adityanath over Maha Kumbh stampede, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claims that the figure of 30 deceased given by the govt is not correct.

“Since day one, the State government has been giving figures daily about how many people have taken holy dip (at Triveni Sangam during Mahakumbh)...Those who can give the numbers of people taking holy dip were not able to tell how many people lost their lives. Such a thing has never happened before,” Yadav says, according to ANI.

"This is the first CM who is not accepting the truth. The figure of 30 deceased given by the government is not correct. Many people are still looking for their missing loved ones...The govt is not able to give the correct numbers of the deceased...I want to say the one who walks on the path of truth is a true Yogi, and the one who hides the truth can never be a true Yogi..."

Maha Kumbh live: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge says: "I want to speak over the stampede in Maha Kumbh…so many people lost their lives... I said a thousand people died there (at Maha Kumbh stampede), if you say that I am wrong, then at least give the exact report of the number of deaths that took place there..."

Maha Kumbh live: SSP Maha Kumbh Rajesh Dwivedi says that 12 Akharas have taken a holy dip and one is left.

"12 Akharas have taken a holy dip and one Akhara is left and soon they will also be coming for their Amrit snan... All the Akharas are happy with their snan and have given their blessings... All devotees from the country and abroad are also taking part in the Amrit snan at various ghats... Before the next snan, the Akharas will all leave and hence the Sangam Ghat will be available for devotees. Technically and logistically it will become easy for us. We will hope that the remaining two snans are also as safe and easy as this one was..." Dwivedi tells ANI.

Maha Kumbh live: On the stampede at Maha Kumbh, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad tells the Lok Sabha: "...Investigation is underway on the incident that took place in Maha Kumbh. We are getting the smell of a conspiracy from the investigation. When the entire investigation is done, the people who were behind the incident will have to bow down in shame..."

SSP Maha Kumbh, Rajesh Dwivedi, informed that 12 akharas have taken a holy dip, with only one akhara left to take their ‘Amrit Snan’.

He said, "All akharas are happy with their snan and have given their blessings... All devotees from the country and abroad are also taking part in the Amrit snan at various ghats... Before the next snan, the akharas will all leave and hence the Sangam ghat will be available for devotees. Technically and logistically it will become easy for us. We will hope that the remaining two snans are also as safe and easy as this one was..."

(via ANI)

Millions of devotees from around the world gathered at the Sangam from the crack of dawn on Monday for the third grand 'Amrit Snan' of the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, marking a smooth and peaceful holy dip on Basant Panchami.

The third ‘Amrit Snan’ comes close on the heels the tragic stampede during the previous 'Amrit Snan' on Mauni Amavasya (January 29), which claimed the lives of at least 30 people and left 60 others injured.

Unlike the Mauni Amavasya dip, when overcrowding at the Sangam Nose caused chaos, many devotees this time were seen bathing at various ghats. The Uttar Pradesh government, shaken by the deadly stampede, adopted a "zero errors" approach to ensure a more organised and controlled experience.

By 10 am, over 81.24 lakh devotees had taken dip in the Sangam, the state government said, adding that it expects a footfall of around five crore pilgrims on Monday alone.

BJP MP and former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma slammed Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, saying that the party “opportunistically waits for incidents to exploit them for political gain”.

Sharma also mentioned that proper arrangements are made in Mahakumbh, and an investigation into the stampede that occurred on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj is currently underway.

"These people who were waiting for an incident to take place in Mahakumbh so that they can do politics on it...The incident that took place there is unfortunate. Investigation is underway for the same. Over 40 crore people are coming there and the arrangements are very good. The opposition will have to stop doing politics on such incidents...," he said.

(via ANI)

Opposition disrupted both the houses of Parliament, where Budget Session is underway, on Monday when they demanded an immediate discussion on the Maha Kumbh Stampeded that had led to the death of 30 people.

"The opposition in Lok Sabha demands a discussion on the Maha Kumbh tragedy and asks the government to respond. Since this was not allowed, we continue to raise our voices," Congress leader Manickam Tagore said.

Opposition MPs raised slogans like ‘Modi-Yogi down down’. Get more details here

The Supreme Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking specific guidelines to ensure safety of devotees attending Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj.

The Supreme Court took note of UP government's submission that plea is already filed in Allahabad high court.

The top court, terming the incident as “unfortunate”, asked petitioner to move high court.

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: Triveni Das Maharaj, hailing from Florida, described the divine energy of the Mahakumbh as electric saying, "The energy in the air is palpable. There is electricity of divinity. This particular snan focuses on the energies of the goddess, the divine mother, in particular, Saraswati. We are all eagerly awaiting this dip in the Triveni of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. We can feel the energy and power in the air."

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: "The Kumbh Mela's purpose is to promote global peace and unity. People from all castes and religions come together here, embodying the spirit of unity, prosperity, and brotherhood," Atal Peethadheeshwar Swami Vishwatmanand Saraswati said.

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, said, “After the Amrit Snan, we will head to Varanasi. We have been allotted 40 minutes for bathing. I request all devotees to refrain from visiting the Sangam ghat unless absolutely necessary.”

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: Saint Chinmayanand Bapu expressed his satisfaction with the Maha Kumbh Mela and the arrangements for those visiting on Monday.

The sage also said, "The festival of Basant Panchami is especially important for students, if they take a holy dip in Sangam on the occasion, then they definitely get success."

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: On Monday, during the celebration of Basant Panchami at the Maha Kumbh Mela, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar and Niranjan Peethadheeshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara said, "Only a leader who truly understands religion can honour such traditions -- and no one embodies this better than Yogi Ji."

Several sadhus praised the chief minister for the smooth running of the bathing rituals at the Triveni Sangam.

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: The total number of bathers since the start of the Mahakumbh Mela on January 13 has surpassed 35 crores, according to an official release from the administration.

With 23 days remaining in the Mahakumbh, the total count is expected to exceed 50 crores.

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: The Naga sadhus drew attention at the Maha Kumbh during the third 'Amrit Snan' on Basant Panchami due to their distinct rituals.

Leading many Akharas during the sacred bathing ritual, the sadhus covered in ash showcased their weapon-handling skills, expertly wielding spears, swords, and tridents.

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: Rajeshwari Maa, Mahamandaleshwar of Nirmohi Ani Akhara, visited the Maha Kumbh and took part in the ‘Amrit Snan’.

She said to ANI, "It's a great honour to be here for the Amrit Snan with our Akhara. After the snan we will continue to stay here and do 'sadhana' with our students and bringing back the Sanatana Dharma back to Japan and all over the world."

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: As of 8 am on Monday, more than 6.22 million devotees took a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam, on the third 'Amrit Snan' on the occasion of Basant Panchami, officials said.

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: More than 200 international devotees participated in prayers and bhajan kirtans in Prayagraj on Monday and participated in the Amrit Snan, expressing their appreciation for the spiritual energy and exceptional organization of the event.

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: Jagatguru Mahamandaleshwar Santosh Dau Satua Baba Maharaj took a dig at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav saying, "Those who are talking about Sadhu and Maha Kumbh, I want to tell them that (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadav ji you never followed Sanatan and never respected Sanatan. So, don't take advantage of it now… We have seen when your party was in power, you shot Sanatanis. Don't spread rumours for your own benefit. We are Sanatani and we will uproot people like you."

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: The Prayagraj district magistrate has declared a holiday in the government offices in the district today in order to maintain law and order due to a large influx of devotees for Basant Panchami.

"It is hereby informed that on the occasion of the main bathing festival of Basant Panchami, on February 3, due to the large crowd of devotees and bathers and traffic restrictions, a local holiday has been declared for government offices in Prayagraj district to maintain peace and law and order," the order said.

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: DIG Maha Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna said that the arrangements and crowd control of the event had been conducted properly.

He said, "The snan of all Akharas has concluded successfully. Mahanirvani Akhara, Niranjani Akhara, and Juna Akhara have successfully done their snan and other Akharas will also take part in the snan successfully."

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: Mahamandaleshwar Shri Devi Maa, a Sadhvi from South America told ANI on Basant Panchami, "It is a great blessing and honour to be able to receive the blessings of Goddess Ganga in this holy dip. Maha Kumbh Mela is a great opportunity to elevate our consciousness and enter into a new consciousness."