Wed Jan 29 16:32:13 UTC 2025: ## Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Stampede Kills 30, Injures 60

**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India** – A devastating stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, early Wednesday morning, left 30 people dead and 60 injured. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. as thousands of devotees surged towards the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, for a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, a highly auspicious day.

Witnesses reported a sea of tightly packed crowds breaking through barriers, leading to the tragic stampede. Many families were separated in the chaos. Authorities have identified 25 of the deceased, with identification of the remaining five underway, according to DIG Mahakumbh, Vaibhav Krishna.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deepest condolences, tweeting his sorrow and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. He stated that the local administration is providing assistance to victims and that bathing, temporarily halted after the incident, has resumed. He also addressed the tragedy at a rally in Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the stampede to devotees jumping barricades, causing injuries and triggering the panic. He emphasized that the situation is under control and urged against the spread of misinformation. He noted that approximately six crore (60 million) devotees participated in the holy dip on Tuesday.

Following the incident, the Akharas (monastic orders) initially cancelled the Amrit Snan (holy bath) planned for Wednesday. However, after crowds thinned, they announced a smaller-scale event would proceed. The Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president, Ravindra Puri, stated that misinformation contributed to the stampede, urging devotees to avoid rushing to the Sangam and take a dip at other ghats along the Ganga.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda offered the central government’s full support to Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Adityanath appealed for calm and cooperation, urging devotees to use the many ghats available for the holy dip and to disregard rumours. The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13th and continues until February 26th, is expected to draw a total of 40 crore (400 million) pilgrims. This year’s event is particularly significant due to a rare celestial alignment. Despite prior crowd control measures implemented by the Uttar Pradesh government, the immense number of devotees overwhelmed the safety precautions.

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