Wed Jan 29 12:30:00 IST 2025: ## Maha Kumbh Stampede Leaves Several Injured, Minister’s Remarks Spark Outrage
**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh:** A stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj during the Mouni Amavasya festival early Wednesday morning left several pilgrims injured. While the exact number of casualties remains undisclosed by the Uttar Pradesh government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah expressed their deepest condolences to the affected families, calling the incident “extremely tragic.”
The stampede occurred around 1:30 AM as large crowds gathered for the holy bath. Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Minister Dr. Sanjay Nishad initially sparked controversy with comments suggesting that minor incidents are common in large gatherings and urging pilgrims to bathe wherever space allowed. This statement drew widespread criticism on social media, prompting Nishad to later clarify that it was a “slip of the tongue” and that he viewed the event as a tragedy. He also stated that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is actively involved in addressing the situation and declined to comment on Akhilesh Yadav’s statements regarding the incident.
Chief Minister Adityanath held a high-level meeting with senior officials to review the situation following the stampede. He reported that some pilgrims suffered serious injuries. Prime Minister Modi confirmed his ongoing contact with the state government and reassured that the bathing process has since resumed smoothly. The government however, has not released an official death toll.
First Piper 