At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said.
The pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area occurred as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, considered one of the most auspicious days during the mela.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Vaibhav Krishna told a press conference here in the evening the stampede has left 30 dead and 60 others injured.
"The incident took place between 1-2 am due to the pressure of crowd. The crowds broke barricades and jumped to the other side, crushing those waiting there. Over 90 injured were rushed to the hospital, out of whom 30 died," he said.
Barricades have been placed in the mela and akhara areas for lane management but they gave way under the pressure of the jostling throng, he said.
As the barricades broke, people fell on those sitting and waiting for taking the holy dip during the 'brahm muhurt' (early morning time considered auspicious to perform certain activities), he said.
Many, including women and children, fell down and were crushed.
Twenty-five of the deceased have been identified, Krishna said. Four of the deceased are from Karnataka and one each from Assam and Gujarat.
Among those injured, 36 are undergoing treatment at the hospital and the rest have been sent with their families, he said.
He said the Mela administration has issued a helpline number -- 1920 -- for tracing missing persons.
PM expresses condolence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday offered his deepest condolences to the devotees who lost their family members in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh, describing the tragedy as extremely saddening.
In a post on X, he said the local administration in Prayagraj is giving all possible help to the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
He said, "I have been speaking to Chief Minister Yogi ji and am in constant touch with the state government." A stampede broke out at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. Several casualties are feared.
Prompt medical services, green corridor 'restricted' damage at Maha Kumbh stampede: UP govt
In a statement, the UP government said that more than 50 ambulances rushed "within two to three minutes by creating a green corridor to rescue people affected in the incident. More than 100 rounds were made by ambulances to save people's lives." Doctors also reached the spot within two to three minutes, while the NDRF, SDRF and police were present to assist them, it said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the incident took place between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara Marg.
The UP government came under fire from opposition parties for the stampede who questioned the quality of arrangements made at the gathering and blamed a special focus on VIP movement.
Dr Gaurav Dubey, the nodal medical officer of the Maha Kumbh Mela area, said specialist doctors treated the injured with promptness.
'Mismanagement, VIP movement, self-promotion': Oppn slams Centre
The opposition on Wednesday hit out at the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government over the Maha Kumbh stampede, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying that mismanagement and administration's special focus on VIP movement were responsible for the tragic incident.
Gandhi also said "VIP culture" should be reined in and the government should make better arrangements to fulfil the needs of common devotees at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said "half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion and mismanagement are responsible for this". Such arrangements despite spending thousands of crores of rupees are condemnable, he said.
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