Wed Jan 29 12:30:00 IST 2025: ## Mahakumbh Stampede: Panic at Prayagraj as Huge Crowd Gathers for Auspicious Bath
**Prayagraj, India:** A stampede at the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Mauni Amavasya (an auspicious day for bathing) resulted in injuries. The incident was triggered by a massive influx of pilgrims rushing towards the Sangam Ghat (confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers), overwhelming the area’s capacity.
Prior to the stampede, Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant was seen in a viral video repeatedly urging pilgrims to avoid sleeping on the ghats and to bathe and leave promptly to prevent a potential disaster. He warned of the dangers of overcrowding and the possibility of a stampede if people didn’t cooperate. His warnings included the phrase, “Jo sovat hai so khovat hai” (He who sleeps loses).
Another video, circulating on social media, shows pilgrims breaching barricades set up to manage the flow of people, highlighting the chaotic conditions leading up to the stampede. The barricades, intended to guide pilgrims safely along designated routes, were overrun by the surging crowd.
The stampede occurred in the early hours of Wednesday as the large crowd surged forward. Authorities are assessing the extent of injuries and working to restore order. The incident underscores the challenges of managing such enormous gatherings during religious events. PM Modi is reportedly monitoring the situation closely.
First Piper 