3 women, 1 cop dead at Mahakumbh

Before the beginning of the last 'shahi snan' on Baisakhi day, the first major tragedy on account of stampede was witnessed leaving 3 women and 1 policeman dead and more than a dozen injured.

Before the beginning of the last 'shahi snan' on Baisakhi day, the first major tragedy on account of stampede was witnessed leaving 3 women and 1 policeman dead and more than a dozen injured. Inspite of tight security cover and 20,000 security personnel deployed, mob went out of control at the most strategic area.

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Much before the scheduled shahi snan to begin at 11.15 am, the peshwai of Juna akhara which was crossing the Chandi bridge, mob broke the barricades at Shankaracharya chowk. The vehicle coming from Chandi bridge caused panic amongst the pilgrims and they started running hither thither around 0800 hours. CM has confirmed two women dead. The wounded have been admitted to the mela hospital. It was destined that Har ki Pauri area would be cleared off people by 8.30 am before the Peshwai of Juna Akhara begins.

Srimahant Ravindranand Saraswati of Juna Akhara says, “It is not possible to control and appeal to people at personal level. It is not a fault on administration part, sometimes people refuse to follow the protocols. The naga babas were collecting themselves to participate in peshwai which would traverse from Shivmurti, laltarao bridge and Chandighat, where people got panicky when a vehicle came and resulted in stampede.”

2 persons fell into river the near to lalitarao bridge but they were saved by jal police. DIG Alok Sharma and Mela adhikari Anand Bardhan reached on the spot and CM has appealed to the public not to panic over the issue.