Thu Jan 30 05:02:49 UTC 2025: ## Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Stampede Kills 30, Sparks Outrage and Investigation

**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India** – A stampede at the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, early Wednesday morning resulted in the deaths of at least 30 pilgrims and injured scores more. The incident occurred between 1 and 2 AM near the Sangam confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, as pilgrims gathered for the auspicious Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual.

According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vaibhav Krishna, the stampede was triggered by a surge of people near a barricade, which collapsed under the pressure of the crowd. Around 90 injured individuals were rushed to hospitals. While 25 of the deceased have been identified, five remain unnamed; some victims were from other states, including Karnataka, Assam, and Gujarat.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, visibly emotional while addressing the media, announced a judicial inquiry into the tragedy, headed by Justice Harsh Kumar, and including former DGP V.K. Gupta and retired IAS officer V.K. Singh. The police will also conduct a separate investigation. The CM declared compensation of ₹25 lakh (approximately $304,000 USD) for each victim’s family.

In response to the tragedy, the Uttar Pradesh government is bolstering security and crowd management measures. Five special secretaries and several Superintendent of Police-level officers, including those with experience from the 2019 Kumbh Mela, are being deployed to improve safety protocols. The no-vehicle zone around the Sangam has been extended, and all VIP passes have been cancelled. The state government also emphasized ensuring safe and smooth transportation of pilgrims leaving Prayagraj.

The stampede has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for accountability. Opposition parties have criticized the state government’s handling of crowd control and demanded stricter action against officials responsible for any negligence. Public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directives for better crowd management at large religious events. While the Kumbh Mela continues, the tragedy casts a pall over the otherwise auspicious gathering. Millions of pilgrims had already taken the holy dip in the Sangam before the incident. The event, which began on January 13th, has been a prominent topic on Indian social media.

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