Mahakumbh Stampede Highlights: 30 dead; CM Yogi orders judicial probe

A Bahraich police sub-inspector who was on duty near the Sangam banks at the Mahakumbh Mela died on Wednesday, with sources saying that he complained of a stomach ache and suddenly his health deteriorated, a news agency PTI report said.

"The Bahraich police received information that Sub-Inspector Anjani Rai, who was assigned duty at the Maha Kumbh, fell ill around 12:00 noon and passed away," Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Durga Prasad Tiwari told reporters.

Post-mortem and other formalities are being conducted, and the Bahraich Police is in coordination with Prayagraj authorities to ensure all necessary procedures are followed, he said.

Jai Prakash Soni’s voice quivered as he recounted the heartbreaking loss of his mother, Sheela, in the stampede that struck Sangam Ghat in Prayagraj on Wednesday morning. The tragedy unfolded in the early hours when a crowd of devotees was caught in a panic, leading to chaos and loss of life. Jai Prakash, who had managed to rescue his elderly father, wife, and two children, could not save his mother, who was trampled in the crush.

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Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed condolences over the loss of lives in a stampede in Prayagraj on Wednesday, wishing the injured persons a swift recovery for those injured in the tragic incident.

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that there is no such thing as one particular moment or minute for a devotee to take a holy dip, adding that every day of the 45-day Mahakumbh Mela is auspicious.

He said the government has made elaborate arrangements for the religious gathering but there was an unfortunate mishap last night.

He urged devotees to not rush, asking them to remain clam and be cautious when there is a large gathering.

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj appeal to devotees to take a holy dip anywhere in the Kumbh Kshetra, saying that there is "no specific place" for it.

"I appeal to the devotees to remain patient and take a holy dip anywhere in the Kumbh Kshetra. There is no specific place where the devotees should gather to take a dip," he told ANI.

He expressed grief over the stampede and said that it was unfortunate and precautions should be taken to avoid any such incident in the future.

"The incident that took place late at night was unfortunate and everyone is sad but we should be cautious that no such incident happens in the future," he said.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan offered his condolences to those who lost their lives in the stampede that took place in Mahakumbh in the early hours of Wednesday.

He told reporters, "I wish for the speedy recovery of all those who were injured... PM Narendra Modi is continuously monitoring the situation... Preparations are being made to prevent this incident in future, and appropriate action will be taken to find out what caused this incident."

"Action will be taken against the culprits. I would like to tell those who are politicising this incident that this is not the time to be doing such things," he added.

The 'Amrit Snan' by saints and seers of all 13 akharas on Mauni Amavasya, which was deferred after a stampede at the Maha Kumbh here, concluded at the Sangam on Wednesday evening, officials said.

Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad on Wednesday stirred a controversy after he allegedly called the Mahakumbh mela stampede a "minor incident". READ MORE

A large number of vehicles carrying thousands of devotees to Maha Kumbh remained stuck on the border between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday due to a huge crowd in Prayagraj, PTI reported quoting officials.

With opposition leaders questioning the crowd control meaures at the Maha Kumbh following a stampede that killed at least 30 people at the Sangam area, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday said "prompt medical services" and a "green corridor" created for such emergencies "restricted" the damage.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced a compensation of 25 lakh each to the family of those who died in the Mahakumbh mela stampede.

After the stampede that killed 30 people in Mahakumbh mela, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced a probe by the judicial commission.

He said that a separate probe will also be done to look into police lapses.

At least four devotees from Belagavi lost their lives in a stampede during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, confirmed Karnataka police on Wednesday, reported ANI.

After the stampede incident that killed 30 people in the Mahakumbh mela, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav demanded that the management of the world's largest religious event should be immediately handed over to the Indian army, reported PTI.

Maha Kumbh Deputy Inspector in General (DIG) Vaibhav Krishna on Wednesday said that situations had been brought under control while Juna Akhara along with two other Akharas would be going for Amrit Snan at Triveni Sangam of the Mahakumbh Mela.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday launched the helpline 1920 for those unable to find their loved ones after the stampede incident in Prayagraj's Mahakumbh mela.

Following the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh earlier on Wednesday, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev urged people to go to the nearest ghat and take Amrit Snan, saying the flow of water from the Sangam would reach every ghat in Prayagraj.

According to DIG Mahakumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, 25 people have already been identified while the identification of the remaining 5 is being done.

Over 30 people have died, while 60 were injured after a stamped-like incident occurred at Mahakumbh mela being held in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, Mahakumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna said on Wednesday

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in a stampede at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, according to an official statement from the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Wednesday expressed grief over the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and extended his condolences to the bereaved families, and pledged support for those affected.

"We are deeply saddened by the heart-wrenching incident that occurred at Maha Kumbh. We pay our humble tributes to the departed souls and express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families," Adani said in his X post.

Till now over 5.71 crore people have taken a holy dip in Triveni waters today, with more than 19.94 crore people overall till 28th January, the Uttar Pradesh Information Department said.

DIG Mahakumbh, Vaibhav Krishna on Wednesday "Juna Akhara and two other Akharas are going for Amrit Snan now. Everything is peaceful, situation is under control. Since there were a lot of devotees, the Akharas proposed to us that they would delay their Amrit Snan. This was a huge support from the Akharas to the administration. The injured in the stampede are undergoing treatment. No one is serious, everyone is out of danger."

Helicopters shower flower petals on seers, and saints as they head towards Sangam, Prayagraj, to take the sacred 'Amrit Snan' on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.