Thu Jan 30 10:34:24 UTC 2025: ## Uttar Pradesh Maha Kumbh Stampede Probe Begins: Commission Aims for Speedy Conclusion
**Prayagraj, India** – A three-member judicial commission, tasked with investigating the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, has begun its work. The commission, headed by retired judge Justice Harsh Kumar, and including former DGP VK Gupta and retired IAS officer DK Singh, has a one-month deadline but intends to expedite the investigation.
At least 30 people died and 60 were injured in the pre-dawn incident on Wednesday when pilgrims surged past barricades during the Mauni Amavasya holy dip, one of the most significant events of the Kumbh Mela. Police reports indicate the stampede resulted from overcrowding and the breaching of crowd control measures.
Justice Kumar stated that the commission will soon visit Prayagraj to conduct its inquiry, though a specific date has not yet been announced. The commissioners have yet to determine how they will divide the investigative responsibilities. The commission was formed by the Uttar Pradesh government to ascertain the causes of the deadly stampede.
First Piper 