Wed Jan 29 19:26:51 UTC 2025: ## Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Stampede Kills 30, Injures 60

**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India** – A stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, during the Mouni Amavasya bathing festival has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people and injured 60 more. The incident occurred Tuesday night near the Sangam confluence, where a massive crowd had gathered.

According to DIG Maha Kumbh Vaibhav Krishna, 25 of the deceased have been identified, with victims hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Gujarat. Many of the injured are in critical condition and have been transferred to higher medical centers. The central hospital at the Kumbh Mela has been transformed into a makeshift medical facility, with media access restricted.

OSDs of the Maha Kumbh Mela, Akanksha Rana, attributed the incident to overcrowding at the Sangam. While claiming the situation is not “too serious,” the continuous influx of injured individuals contradicts this assertion.

Following the tragedy, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind issued a statement urging the central and Uttar Pradesh governments to take responsibility and improve crowd management. They emphasized that the safety of ordinary devotees is as crucial as that of VIP guests.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that traffic flow in and around the Mela site must remain uninterrupted to ensure the safe passage of all devotees. He also instructed that measures be taken to prevent overcrowding at railway stations, including deploying more special trains and buses.

The traditional “amrit snan” (holy bath) of the various Akhadas (religious orders) was delayed due to the stampede but resumed later in the day. By 8 pm on Tuesday, an estimated 76.4 million devotees had taken the holy dip, bringing the total number of pilgrims to the Kumbh Mela since January 29th to 275.8 million.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha expressed grief over the incident, highlighting the significance of the Kumbh Mela for Hindu devotees and calling for a thorough review of security arrangements to prevent future tragedies. He expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. Investigations into the cause of the stampede are underway.

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