At least 30 individuals were feared dead following a stampede that occurred at the Maha Kumb in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday, as millions of devotees gathered for a sacred bath on Mauni Amavasya (new moon).
The Kumbh Mela, regarded as the world’s largest religious gathering, has also experienced several stampedes in the past.
Stampede Incidents Of The Past
1954: The 1954 Kumbh Mela, the inaugural Kumbh conducted post-Independence, marked a significant moment for India, yet it is also recalled as a disaster. On 3 February 1954, a stampede ensued as numerous devotees gathered at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) to immerse themselves in the sacred waters during the significant event of Mauni Amavasya. Almost 800 individuals were crushed to death or drowned in the river.
1986: A devastating stampede occurred during the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, resulting in at least 200 fatalities. The turmoil began when the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Veer Bahadur Singh, reached Haridwar accompanied by multiple Chief Ministers and Members of Parliament from different states. As security forces prevented the public from reaching the riverbanks, the crowd became agitated and spiraled out of control, resulting in a fatal stampede.
ALSO READ: Centre approves Rs 1.69 hike in ethanol price; sugar stocks rally
2003: In 2003, a stampede occurred in Nashik, Maharashtra, resulting in numerous fatalities when thousands of devotees assembled at the Godavari River for the sacred bath during the Kumbh Mela. At least 39 individuals, including females, lost their lives, and over 100 sustained injuries in the stampede.
2013: A stampede occurred at Allahabad railway station during the Kumbh Mela on February 10, 2013, when a footbridge fell, causing widespread panic. The disaster resulted in 42 fatalities and injured 45 additional individuals.
