Over seven people have lost their lives in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, northern India.
The Maha Kumbh festival is held every 12 years and it is a significant event in Hinduism. The festival involves a series of ritual baths by Hindu sadhus, or holy men, and other pilgrims at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
The stampede occurred early Wednesday as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to take a holy bath at the confluence of three rivers, the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical, invisible Saraswati. The current incident has cast a shadow over what is considered one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, drawing millions of devotees seeking spiritual solace.
The exact cause of the stampede remains unclear, but witnesses reported that devotees started falling on each other when there was a huge push near the confluence of the three rivers. They said it was scenes of chaos and panic as people tried to escape the crowded area. The incident has led to a mass panic among the devotees, with many fleeing the scene in search of safety.
An official said: “More than seven people have been killed in the stampede and around 10 others injured.” According to officials, there had been only one stampede which occurred around 1 a.m local time but its cause was unclear.
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Vijay Kumar, a devotee from the eastern city of Patna said “We had barricades in front of us and police with batons on the other side. The push from behind was very powerful,…people started falling.” “There were people lying all around, I don’t know if they were dead or alive.”
Another devotee, a woman told the local news agency ANI that she and her mother were among those who fell. She said: “People kept stepping on us. I am safe but my mother has died.”
Distressed families have begun making inquiries about their missing relatives. Police and rescuers also assisted the injured and managed the crowds. According to officials, a Rapid Action Force has been deployed to bring the situation under control.
Belongings of the devotees, like blankets, clothes, and backpacks, were scattered around the scene of the stampede.
This latest tragedy raises more questions than answers. Is the stampede a sign of poor planning and management, or is it an inevitable consequence of such a massive gathering? And how will this affect the future of the Maha Kumbh festival?
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