Prayagraj: The scene at the world’s largest religious event, Maha Kumbh, changed this morning after a stampede. While clothes, shoes, bags were lying on the ground, heaps of other discarded items were seen on the other side.
Many people are feared dead in the stampede that took place at around 1 am, reports say that more than 30 people have been injured. The incident took place when devotees had gathered near Sangam to take the traditional ‘Amrit Snan’ or ‘Mauni Amavasya’ bath, one of the holiest days of the six-week event.
Pictures from the site of the incident showed scattered items like clothes, blankets and backpacks of devotees. In some pictures, many people were seen stepping on those items while trying to escape the crush.
How did the stampede happen?
After holding a high-level meeting in the state capital Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says that the stampede happened between 1 and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades on Akhada Marg. Between 1 am and 2 am, on Akhada Marg where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of Akhadas, some devotees crossed the barricades and got seriously injured. They were immediately rushed to the hospital where prompt treatment was ensured. He also informed that the situation in Prayagraj is “under control” but “crowd pressure is still there”.
Chief Minister Adityanath also appealed to people to take a dip in the Ganga at their nearest ghats and not try to reach Sangam Nose.
