Casualties in Stampede
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, a stampede during the Mahakumbh is thought to have killed 30 people; 60 more were injured, and 7 were taken to the hospital in serious condition.
It has taken place against the background of the existence of many other heartfelt tragedies caused by excessive enthusiasm, fanatical zeal, belief, and offensive discrimination while sharply done through a few day-and-night-long jubilations.
Press Confress By DIG Vijay Kiran Anand
The DIG Vaibhav Krishna and Fair Officer Vijay Kiran Anand addressed the media in a roughly three-minute conference at 6:30 pm. The DIG Vaibhav Krishna said that thirty devotees have been killed in this rush. Injuries were sixty, and corpses known to exist were 25. Of the number of persons killed in a stampede, he said, no more than 19 hail from Uttar Pradesh while four came from Karnataka and one each from Gujarat and Assam.
Barricades were broken at the ghat, so some people crushed devotees who were sleeping on the ground,” he stated. Then came utter anarchy. The Fair would not be conducted in such a way to encourage VIP treatment,” he stated.
According to Fair Officer Vijay Kiran Anand, arrangements are in the works to bring back the devotees who traveled to the Mahakumbh. Wait until a little later to question further.
Compensation Announced By CM Yogi
Meanwhile, CM Yogi assured that the kin of the victims will be given Rs 25 lakh each as per the state government’s rules. It was Mauni Amavasya on the banks of the Sangam, and all ablutions of devotees were prepared to begin when the tragedy struck.
Following the stampede, bodies of deceased persons were kept at Srishti Medical College, which received an influx of corpses thereafter. Before this, 14 corpses had already been sent to the medical college for autopsy, while the last was tagged with a 40.
Subsequently, eight to ten more ambulances brought more deceased from the fair, among these, about twenty individuals have been handed over to the families.
With it, they were gone. Another stampede during the Mahakumbh claimed five lives.
Another Stampede
On Wednesday morning, yet another stampede took place at Mahakumbh, but news of the disaster broke out only late at night. Many devotees were walking from Old GT Road to the fair site.
Around this time, a Mahamandaleshwar vehicle passed down Mukti Marg. Some ladies fell during this time. The women were trampled upon as the automobile moved past. Five people died, including a girl. According to CO Rudra Pratap, this happened between 8:00-9:00 hours.
The vehicle backed up itself, injuring five. The patient was carried to Swaroop Rani Medical College for treatment. He died on the way to treatment. The identification is ongoing.
Reasons behind the rush
Amrit Snan caused the closure of most of the pontoon bridges. So thousands of people gathered at the Sangam. Some people fainted because they were trapped in the barricades. Attempted to lynch.
There are no specific entry and exit points at Sangam Nose. So they all are going and coming back in the same way. In this situation, it will be crucial because once the stampede starts, that is it; it will be a crush downwards.
Preparation So Far
Due to the heavy influx of pilgrims, eight entrance routes into Prayagraj from Bhadohi, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, and the Mirzapur border were closed.
The entire area of the fairground is declared as a no-vehicle zone; hence all vehicle passes are canceled, a statement meaning a vehicle shall not enter the fair. The road is a one-way road. Those devotees after performing the baths come in another route.
There will be no four-wheelers allowed in the city. From February 4, the fairgrounds will remain so. A cabinet minister in the administration of Uttar Pradesh, Sanjay Nishad said, “Swami shall bathe where it’s possible; Swami must bathe anywhere.”
In reality, only little incidents are possible in places with large crowds and excellent administration. By late Wednesday evening, the authorities expected that between 8 to 10 crore pilgrims were expected to bathe in 44 ghats, including Sangam. More than 60,000 troops are stationed across the city to provide security.
Condolence By PM Modi and CM Yogi
Modi, Yogi expressed condolences; Rahul said – arrangements are inadequate- After the accident, PM Modi expressed condolence to those whose kin died. Said: I am constantly in conversation with the Uttar Pradesh administration.
The bathing was stopped for some time, but very recently, the bathing has become quite peaceful. Please ask the people to be restrained. Never let pilgrims be so taken in by bathing at Sangam alone. Bathing is allowed wherever the Ganges is throughout the country.
Opposition Statements
Vikram Malkani said that government failings and the VIP culture are responsible for the stampede. Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP, blamed government inefficiency and VIP culture for the stampede. The leader of the SP, Akhilesh Yadav, said Mahakumbh should be handed over to the army.