Wed Jan 29 12:30:00 IST 2025: ## Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Stampede Kills 30, Injures 90
**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India** – A stampede at the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, resulted in the deaths of at least 30 pilgrims and injured 90 more on Wednesday, January 29th. The incident occurred in the early morning hours, between 1:45 AM and 2:00 AM, near the Sangam confluence where devotees gather for ritual bathing.
According to DIG Mahakumbh Vaibhav Krishna, the stampede was triggered by a surge in crowds who had gathered overnight to take a holy dip during the auspicious Brahma Muhurta (early morning hours). Many pilgrims were sleeping near barricades when the crowd swelled beyond capacity, causing them to break and people to fall on those below. Twenty-five of the deceased have been identified.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced compensation of ₹2.5 million (approximately $30,000 USD) to the families of each victim. He also stated that a three-member judicial inquiry will investigate the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
The large influx of pilgrims, amplified by a rare astrological alignment making this year’s event particularly significant, overwhelmed crowd control measures. Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have taken steps to control the flow of pilgrims into Uttar Pradesh to prevent further incidents. A helpline number, 1920, has been released to assist those seeking information about missing loved ones.
Despite the tragedy, the Kumbh Mela continues. Over 69.9 million pilgrims have already taken a holy dip in the Sangam, with hundreds of thousands more remaining. The Indian Railways has deployed over 190 special trains to manage the large-scale departure of pilgrims. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of managing safety and crowd control at large-scale religious gatherings. Previous stampedes have occurred at the Kumbh Mela in 1954, 1986, 2003, and 2013.
First Piper 