Stampede in Mahakumbh Updates: 30 people dead, 60 injured, says DIG Vaibhav Krishna

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday offered his condolences to pilgrims who lost their family members in the stampede at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.

He also wished for speedy recovery to those injured in the tragic incident.

Multiple casualties took place as a stampede broke out at the Sangam area of the Mahakumbh early Wednesday as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

Soren said he is saddened to hear the news of the tragic stampede at Mahakumbh.

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the stampede at the Maha Kumbh and prayed for the recovery of those injured.

Multiple casualties took place as 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.

“The stampede incident at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. I express my condolences to the families of the injured devotees and pray to God that all the injured devotees recover soon,” Murmu said in a post on ‘X’ in Hindi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh, and said he is in constant touch with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the local administration.

Multiple casualties took place as 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.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident that took place at Maha Kumbh. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this incident. May God give them the strength to bear this sorrow. The administration is treating the injured in hospitals. I am in constant touch with the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the local administration,” Shah wrote on ‘X’ in Hindi.

PM Modi addressed the stampede at the Maha Kumbh before beginning an electoral rally in Delhi today, saying that a few people were killed and others were hurt.

“I want to pay my respects to the people who lost their family and hope that the injured get well soon. I have been in touch with the UP Government to monitor the situation closely. There was a brief pause in the rituals of the day but now they have restarted it. I again want to pay my respects to families of the people we lost,” he said.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the stampede-like situation at the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela and assured full support with regard to health services to manage the situation effectively.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have already spoken to UP CM Yogi Adityanath after the stampede-like situation that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.

Meanwhile, after a brief halt due to large crowds, saints began their procession as they headed to Triveni Sangam for the second Amrit Snan of MahaKumbh 2025 on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday.

Saints continue to gather at the Triveni Sangam, albeit in lesser procession, for the second Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya.

#WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 | Prayagraj, UP | Saints continue to arrive, though in smaller processions, at the Triveni Sangam for the second Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

As of 12 pm today, about 4.24 crore devotees have taken a holy dip. The total number of devotees… pic.twitter.com/f8h4VnGJao

— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

Expressing sadness over the stampede at Maha Kumbh, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday said his government is ready to extend the necessary help.

Reddy said the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government should provide appropriate treatment for the injured and also help the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy, according to an official release.

Multiple casualties took place as 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.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has criticized the arrangements made for devotees at Mahakumbh, particularly in the wake of the recent stampede. He raised concerns over the lack of proper facilities and questioned the effectiveness of the administration’s efforts.

“The Kumbh is a matter of faith. What arrangements have been made for the devotees there? Women are having to sleep on roads,” Raut said.

He pointed out that during Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure, the arrangements at the Kumbh had been much better, saying, “During Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure, the arrangements at Kumbh were the best.”

Raut also noted that the visits of Union ministers and VIPs were increasing pressure on the system. “When Union ministers & VIPs visit, it puts pressure on the system,” he said.

#WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 | Prayagraj, UP | Saints start arriving at the Triveni Sangam for the second Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. pic.twitter.com/GhoeGvbK5C

— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday held a high-level meeting at his residence here on Wednesday after a stampede at the Maha Kumbh and said some people were “seriously injured” in the incident.

The situation is under control now, even though the crowd pressure remains, he told reporters here after the meeting.

Adityanath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah and J P Nadda called him to take stock of the situation in Prayagraj.

In a post on X, PM Modi said that the accident that happened in Prayagraj Mahakumbh is extremely sad.

He also stated that the local administration has been engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. He had also spoken to the UP CM Yogi Adityanath and he has also been in touch with the state government.

प्रयागराज महाकुंभ में हुआ हादसा अत्यंत दुखद है। इसमें जिन श्रद्धालुओं ने अपने परिजनों को खोया है, उनके प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। इसके साथ ही मैं सभी घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं। स्थानीय प्रशासन पीड़ितों की हरसंभव मदद में जुटा हुआ है। इस सिलसिले में मैंने…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 29, 2025

DIG Mahakumbh, Vaibhav Krishna has ordered horse-mounted police personnel to move devotees to vacate the Triveni Sangam ghat.

Earlier, to ensure the security of all the devotees, amid massive crowds building in the Mahakumbh area on Mauni Amavasya, a team of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad along with a sniffer dog conducted regular checking of the area.

Speaking to ANI Krishna addressed the ongoing crowd control measures at Triveni Sangam during Mahakumbh 2025, anticipating more than 10 crore people to arrive for the holy dip today.

Rahul Gandhi has stated that mismanagement and the administration’s special attention on VIP mobility rather than average devotees were to blame for the tragic accident during the Mahakumbh.

Gandhi further stated that “VIP culture” should be discouraged and that the government should make greater plans to meet the requirements of ordinary pilgrims at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.

VIDEO | Maha Kumbh 2025: Police are trying to vacate the Akhara Marg amid huge influx of devotees. #MahaKumbh2025 pic.twitter.com/X9mk1feg1v

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 29, 2025

To prevent overcrowding in Prayagraj, the Raebareli Police Department has set up checkpoints to temporarily hold vehicles, including buses, carrying devotees to the Maha Kumbh Mela, police said on Wednesday.

Speaking to ANI, Circle Officer-city Raebareli Amit Singh said that so far they have stopped around 40-50 vehicles, including around 10 large buses from going to Prayagraj.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday urged people to bathe in the Ganga at their closest ghats and refrain from attempting to reach the Sangam Nose after a rush during the Maha Kumbh left several people hurt, according to an official statement.

सभी पूज्य संतों, श्रद्धालुओं, प्रदेश एवं देश वासियों से मेरी अपील है कि अफवाह पर कोई ध्यान न दें, संयम से काम लें, प्रशासन आप सभी की सेवा के लिए तत्परता से कार्य कर रहा है... pic.twitter.com/r3qAkveJoz

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 29, 2025

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday expressed grief over several people being injured in a stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and underlined the need for enhanced surveillance at the event.

Multiple casualties were feared after the stampede-like situation broke out at the Sangam as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on ‘Mauni Amavasya’, the most significant ritual at the Maha Kumbh.

This year, a rare celestial alignment called ‘Triveni Yog’ is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day. The ‘Amrit Snan’ on ‘Mauni Amavasya’ is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.

“The news of casualties of devotees in the mismanagement accident in Maha Kumbh is very sad,” Yadav said in a post on X.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath stated that the incident happened between 1am to 2 am this morning.

Officer on Special Duty for the Mela Akanksha Rana said, “Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised after a barrier broke at the Sangam.”

Yogi Adityanath also stated that PM Modi has spoken to him four times since morning

JP Nadda and Amit Shah also took stock of the situation, ha added.

Yogi had also spoken with the Akhara Parishad chiefs and they have been cooperating. They have also agreed to take the holy dip after devotees have taken the dip.

He also appealed that people do not believe in rumours and that there are pressures on locations like Akhara Marg, Sangam Point.

Parmarth Niketan Ashram President Swami Chidanand Saraswati on Wednesday said that prayers were held for those injured in the recent stampede like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela.

He also informed that he has cancelled all his programs and is heading to the Sangam to meet people and the victims.

Speaking to ANI, Swami Chidanand Saraswati said, “As soon as I got to know about the stampede, we informed everyone at our camp that we would not do snan together today. Everyone is asked to take a dip at their nearest Ganga Ghat. We have cancelled ‘samoohik snan’. Everybody’s well-being and service shall be everyone’s priority right now. We have prayed for those who got injured in the incident. We have cancelled all our programs and are heading to the Sangam to meet people and the victims.”

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said that this is Amrit Kaal of Sanatan and those participating in Mauni Amavasya should stay ‘maun’ (silent) and meditate.

“This is the Amrit kal of Sanatan… All those who are here during the Amrit Snan of Mauni Amavasya, should stay ‘maun’ and meditate and pray and indulge in bhajan. They should hold gratitude in their hearts… When in crowds like this, it is our duty to ensure our and everyone else’s safety. If everyone is careful, everything will go on smoothly. All devotees who are here need to be patient. The first characteristic of dharma is patience… Even though everyone wants to visit Sangam, it is not practically possible so wherever you are, you can go to your nearest ghat since the flow of water from Sangam will definitely reach every ghat in Prayagraj,” said Ramdev while speaking to ANI.

In response to the “stampede-like” scenario at the Sangam, the Congress on Wednesday blasted the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, calling for the transfer of Maha Kumbh administration to a more capable administrator than Chief Minister Adityanath and the cessation of VVIP movement there.

As millions of pilgrims gathered for a sacred bath on Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday, a “stampede-like” scenario broke out at the Sangam amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh, raising fears of many casualties, officials said.

According to the Uttar Pradesh government, 1.75 crore individuals including actress and politician Hema Malini, took the holy plunge in the Mahakumbh today until 6 am, bringing the total number of devotees who took the dip until January 28 to 19.94 crore.

Malini shared her gratitude after taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam on Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday. “I am feeling great. I have never had such an experience before. Today is a very special day, and I am fortunate to take the holy dip,” she said.

It was the largest single-day attendance in the Mahakumbh, with 5 crore devotees, including pilgrims, saints, Kalpvasis, and devotees, taking a holy plunge the day before.

The Yogi government anticipated that there will be 45 crore people in Mahakumbh and 10 crore devotees on Mauni Amavasya.

Congress leader Kharge offers his sympathies to the relatives of the worshippers killed in the stampede.

महाकुंभ के दौरान, तीर्थराज संगम के तट पर हुई भगदड़ से कई लोगों की जान गई है और अनेकों लोगों के घायल होने का समाचार बेहद हृदयविदारक है।

श्रद्धालुओं के परिजनों के प्रति हमारी गहरी संवेदनाएँ और घायलों की शीघ्रातिशीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ की हम कामना करते हैं।

आधी अधूरी व्यवस्था,…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 29, 2025

VIDEO | Maha Kumbh 2025: Devotees continue to arrive in hordes at Sangam, Prayagraj for holy dip on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya'.#MahaKumbhWithPTI #MahaKumbh2025

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/dQ30gPYlu3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 29, 2025

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has expressed sadness over the casualties of devotees in an accident “caused by mismanagement” in Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

He also urged the devotees to exercise restraint.

“The news of casualties of devotees in an accident caused by mismanagement in Maha Kumbh is extremely sad,” Akhilesh Yadav said in a post on X.

“We appeal to our government to: – Seriously injured people should be taken to the nearest best hospitals with the help of air ambulance and immediate medical treatment should be provided. – Arrangements should be made to identify the bodies of the deceased hand them over to their relatives and send them to their place of residence. – Urgent efforts should be made to reunite those who have been separated. – Surveillance should be increased by making good use of helicopters,” he added.

The Uttar Pradesh government has built a war room for Mahakumbh 2025, from which Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is continually monitoring the situation at Mahakumbh.

The Chief Secretary, DGP, Principal Secretary-Home, officials from the CM Office, and the ADG Law and Order are all present in the war room, watching the situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously monitoring the situation in the MahaKumbh after a stampede-like situation in the early morning.

The Prime Minister is constantly in contact with the state government. He has spoken with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister three times this morning and is giving directions for the normalisation of the situation and relief.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also spoken to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following the incident at the Sangam during the Mauni Amavasya celebrations at the Mahakumbh Mela. He also assured him of full support from the Centre.

Since getting information of the event in the morning, the Chief Minister has been receiving regular updates from officials.

He has been meeting with Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Home, and DGP since 4:00 AM to provide required orders.

PM Modi is in close communication with the State government while assessing the scenario in Kumbh. He has so far had three conversations with U.P.

Yogi Adityanath and is providing guidance for alleviation and the normalisation of the situation.

According to Ravindra Puri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the “Amrit Snan” will go place, albeit on a smaller scale, as fewer people are present and the ghats have been cleared.

He had previously stated that the scenario resembled a stampede, thus the holy dip was cancelled.

Following the stampede-like situation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged pilgrims to take a dip in the nearest ghat and avoid going to Sangam Nose.

He advised citizens to obey the administration’s directions and comply with officials. He also urged them not to pay any credence to the rumours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation at the Maha Kumbh in a call with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following a stampede-like incident and called for immediate support measures.

Modi is continuously monitoring the situation and has spoken to Adityanath twice so far, official sources said.

“PM Modi spoke to Yogi Ji about the situation at the Kumbh Mela, reviewed the developments, and called for immediate support measures,” an official said.

Multiple casualties were feared after a stampede-like situation broke out at Sangam in the early hours of Wednesday amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh, as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, officials said.

In view of the incident, the Akharas called off their traditional ‘Amrit Snan’ for Mauni Amavasya, even as devotees in large numbers continued to take a dip at Sangam and other ghats in the Mela area.

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after a stampede-like scenario occurred at the Sangam during the Mahakumbh Mela’s Mauni Amavasya festivities.

He also promised him full assistance from the Centre.