The Supreme Court recently referred to the tragic stampede that occurred during the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in the deaths of 30 people, as "unfortunate."
However, it dismissed a plea seeking action against Uttar Pradesh officials and advised the petitioner to approach the Allahabad High Court.
On Monday, Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, acknowledged the severity of the incident while addressing Advocate Vishal Tiwari, who had filed the plea. Tiwari sought accountability for the state officials and raised concerns about recurring stampedes at major events like the Maha Kumbh.
In response, the Chief Justice recommended that the matter be taken up with the High Court, stating, "It is an unfortunate incident and a matter of concern, but approach the High Court. A judicial commission has already been constituted."
The petitioner's concerns stemmed from the tragic events of January 29, when large crowds at the Maha Kumbh festival caused chaos during the early hours of Mauni Amavasya, a significant day in the religious calendar.
As millions of devotees gathered at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers to perform ritualistic baths, a stampede broke out.
People trampled each other as they rushed towards a narrow stretch of riverbank, breaking through police barricades. The stampede occurred between 1 am and 2 am, overwhelming the security measures put in place for crowd control.
Representing the state of Uttar Pradesh, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi informed the bench that a judicial inquiry was already underway to investigate the incident.
He mentioned that a similar plea had been filed in the Allahabad High Court, adding that the ongoing judicial probe would provide a fair examination of the matter. A three-member panel, headed by retired judge Harsh Kumar, was set up to look into the incident.
The panel also includes former police chief VK Gupta and retired civil servant DK Singh. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a separate police probe into the incident.
The plea, filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari, criticised the state government for its failure to prevent the stampede, particularly on such an important day. It argued that there were significant lapses in the administration’s handling of the event, which led to the tragic incident.
The petitioner also called for the establishment of a dedicated aid cell for devotees at the Kumbh Mela to improve safety and management during future gatherings.
Further, the plea demanded that the Supreme Court issue directives to all states to enhance crowd management policies and ensure better preparedness during large public gatherings.
It called for the deployment of medical teams from various states, coordinated with the Uttar Pradesh government, to provide immediate assistance in such events.
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