Stampede 1 km From Sangam At Maha Kumbh: What We Know So Far
Many deaths are feared after a stampede-like situation broke out near Sangam amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj this morning. More than 30 devotees, mostly women, who turned up for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, were also injured.
- Many deaths are feared and over 30 pilgrims were injured when a stampede-like situation unfolded at the Maha Kumbh on the morning of Mauni Amavasya, considered the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh.
- As crores of devotees streamed into the tent city of Uttar Pradesh, barricades about a kilometre away from the Sangam -- the point where the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers meet -- broke, leading to some women to faint. A stampede-like situation broke out when the unconscious women fell.
- "Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled," a devotee told the news agency PTI while narrating her harrowing experience.
- A woman, whose child suffered injuries in the chaos, claimed "There was nowhere to go".
- The incident led to the Akharas calling off their traditional 'Amrit Snan' or holy dip for Mauni Amavasya.
- Millions of pilgrims, who had turned up for 'Amrit Snan', continued to take a dip at Sangam and other ghats in the Mela area.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation in a call with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and called for immediate support measures.
- Dubbed the world's largest spiritual gathering, the Maha Kumbh, being held after 12 years, kicked off in Prayagraj on January 13 and will continue till February 26.
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The Sangam is considered the holiest by Hindus, with a belief that taking a dip in it during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away people's sins and provides them 'moksha' or salvation.
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More than 20 crore pilgrims have so far taken a dip.
