It was expected multiple millions of devotees would throng into Maha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday, January 29, on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The sacred day turned out to be tragic for many families as a sudden stampede due to the massive influx of lakhs of pilgrims claimed the lives of at least 30 people.
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has, therefore, implemented a few rules to prevent such incidents in the future.
Stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025
Credit: Instagram/mahakumbh_25
In the wee hours of January 29, Wednesday, a sudden surge in the number of pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj, led to a fatal stampede. The tragedy resulted in at least 90 reported casualties in which 60 got injured and 30 died.
The incident occurred on the auspicious day of Mauni Amavasya. More than 100 million pilgrims and devotees reached the Maha Kumbh Mela. A sea of pilgrims attempted to inch towards Sangam—the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers—for a holy dip which led to confusion, chaos, and a stampede.
According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Maha Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, the stampede was triggered by pilgrims pushing against barricades in an attempt to reach the holy waters.
This year’s Maha Kumbh Mela is particularly significant due to a very rare planetary alignment, making it a once-in-144-years event. The spiritual significance of Mauni Amavasya, a day dedicated to ancestors, further drew more devotees for the divine experience. Millions wanted to take a dip in the holy Sangam on Mauni Amavasya as it is believed that the day brings virtue and salvation.
Major steps taken by the UP Government post Maha Kumbh stampede
Credit: Instagram/mahakumbh_25
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a statement, said that overcrowding at the venue was a key reason and that he urged people to not rush to Sangam and instead take a dip in nearby ghats.
Ahead of the third ‘Amrit Snansnan dates.
Here are five major changes in administration after Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 stampede:
1. Complete no-vehicle zone• The entry for all types of vehicles has been banned from January 25 in the entire mela grounds.
• Due to this, devotees and pilgrims will have to park their vehicles further away in the mela grounds outside.
• Since then, videos have been surfacing online of attendees claiming to be forced to walk as far as 18-20 kms at once.
• The no-vehicle rule has been put in place to ensure smooth movement and minimize congestion.
2. No VVIP passes• No special passes will be permitted to allow vehicle entry in the mela grounds.
• There will be no exceptions to this.
• The excessive VIP entries had become a nuisance for common pilgrims due to their security arrangements.
3. One-way routes• A one-way traffic system has been enforced to manage smooth movement of the crowd in and outside the mela grounds.
4. Vehicle entry restricted• Vehicles from neighboring districts are not being allowed at district borders to reduce further congestion in the Kumbh Mela.
5. Four-wheeler vehicles restricted• Among measures taken to manage the Maha Kumbh Mela crowd, the last one is banning the entry of four-wheelers into the city till February 4.
IAS officers Ashish Goyal and Bhanu Goswami have been appointed to assist with the crown management at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Both the bureaucratic officers played a key role in managing the 2019 Ardh Kumbh along with Vijay Kiran successfully.
Social and lead images credits: Instagram/mahakumbh_25
