Several sustained injuries and at least 15 people are feared dead in a stampede that occurred at the Mahakumb Mela in Prayagraj in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh after scores of people turned up for a holy dip in the Ganga on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday.
Multiple casualties were feared after a stampede-like situation broke out at Sangam in the early hours of Wednesday amid the ongoing Mahakumbh, as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, Hindustan Times reported.
As pressure of the crowds increased due to the Mauni Amavasya ‘Amrit Snan’, the Mela administration was prompted to send people back. Announcements were also being sounded from the public address system, asking devotees to vacate the ghats for others after taking their holy bath.
Amid the stampede chaos, several people returned without taking a bath on this auspicious day.
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In the past 17 days, the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 has already witnessed over 150 million pilgrims taking a holy dip in the Sangam and ghats. On Tuesday alone, more than 48 million devotees took the snan, a tally higher than that of Amrit Snan on Makar Sankranti, which was 35 million, the UP government said.
In the stepped-up security measures, personnel have been deployed at every nook and corner, along with AI-powered CCTV cameras and drones keeping an eye on the Mela ground.
The Amrit Snan (formerly known as Shahi Snan), is the grandest and most sacred ritual of the Mahakumbh Mela, which draws millions of pilgrims from across the world.
The Mahakumbh Mela 2025, held after 12 years, kicked off on January 13 and will conclude on Maha Shivaratri on February 26. (With inputs from PTI)
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