A devastating stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj early Wednesday morning claimed the lives of at least 30 people and left nearly 60 others injured. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched a judicial inquiry, appointing a three-member committee led by former judge Harsh Kumar to investigate the tragedy. Additionally, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of the victims.
The stampede occurred between 1 am and 2 am at the Sangam on the Mela premises as a massive crowd of devotees surged toward the Sangam Nose at Triveni for a holy dip during the second Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya—one of the most auspicious bathing days of the festival.
According to Mela Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vaibhav Krishna, 30 people lost their lives, with 25 victims identified so far. Among the deceased, four were from Karnataka, and one each from Assam and Gujarat. The rush also left over 90 people injured, 36 of whom remain hospitalized, while 24 have been discharged after treatment.
Authorities revealed that the tragedy unfolded due to immense crowd pressure, which led to barricades breaking as devotees pushed forward. As a result, many individuals—some sitting or lying down while waiting for the holy dip—were crushed. Women and children were among the casualties.
In the wake of the incident, the state administration has decided to suspend VIP protocols for the remaining religious baths at the Mela to ensure smoother crowd management. DIG Krishna also announced the launch of a helpline (1920) to assist families in tracing missing persons.
A judicial committee, comprising former High Court judge VK Gupta and retired IAS officer BK Singh, will conduct an in-depth probe into the root cause of the tragedy. The police have also initiated a separate investigation. Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) will visit the site on Thursday to assess the situation and oversee the inquiry proceedings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences via a post on X, calling the incident “extremely saddening.” Initially, the Uttar Pradesh government remained tight-lipped about the number of casualties, but the scale of the tragedy has since become clear.
Despite the devastating loss, members of the Akhara later gathered in smaller numbers at Triveni Sangam in the afternoon to take an Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya. The administration continues its efforts to ensure the safety of the remaining pilgrims attending the Mahakumbh Mela.
