A stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela left 17 dead nearly three dozen people injured, mostly women, as a massive crowd gathered at Sangam for the Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan. The event has raised serious concerns about crowd management at the sacred festival.
BY PC Bureau
A stampede-like situation broke out at Sangam Nose during the early hours of Wednesday morning, around 2:00 a.m., at the Maha Kumbh Mela, leading to the deaths of over 10 people, as reported by Zee News TV.
The exact number of casualties and injuries is still being confirmed. A massive crowd had gathered at the ghats for the holy dip (Amrit Snan) on Mauni Amavasya, and the situation quickly escalated as pilgrims rushed to take part in the sacred ritual.
Dozens Injured in Chaotic Scene at Sangam
Nearly three dozen devotees, mostly women, were injured after a stampede-like situation erupted at the Sangam. The chaos occurred as an overwhelming number of pilgrims gathered for the Mauni Amavasya bath. Officials have confirmed that some people were injured, though none are in critical condition and are receiving necessary medical care.
17 people have died and many devotees have been injured in a stampede during Amrit Snan on the day of Mauni Amavasya in Maha Kumbh Prayagraj.#MahaKumbh2025 #Mahakumbh_100Million #mahakumbh2025prayagraj #MahakumbhCalling #kumbh2025 #KumbhaMela pic.twitter.com/n7zVwjcwIr
— jagritimedia.com (@jagriti23091982) January 29, 2025
ALSO READ: Stampede-Like Chaos at Maha Kumbh: Dozens Injured
Akanksha Rana, Officer on Special Duty for the Mela, explained, “The stampede-like situation occurred at Sangam Nose after a barrier collapsed. The situation was chaotic, but no one is in critical condition.”
Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan is the most important ritual of the Maha Kumbh, with around 10 crore pilgrims expected to participate this year. However, due to overcrowding, Akhadas have decided to skip the holy dip on this auspicious day.
Akhadas Call Off Mauni Amavasya Dip Amid Chaos
There was a stampede near Sangam coast on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya in Maha Kumbh today. It is learnt that 17 people died in the stampede and dozens received injuries. Nearly 50 ambulances were pressed into service. At present, the situation is under control.… pic.twitter.com/FRbjgFpMcG
— V Chandramouli (@VChandramouli6) January 29, 2025
In light of the stampede-like situation, Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, announced the decision to cancel the Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan for the seers and saints of the Akharas. “We were ready for the ‘snan’ when we were informed about the incident. Given the situation, we have decided to call off our participation in the ‘snan’ today,” Puri stated.
The Akharas—Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen—traditionally take the holy dip in a specific sequence after a grand procession to the Sangam Ghat.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
Many of the injured were transported to the central hospital in the Mela area, where relatives and officials gathered. Sarojini, a pilgrim from Karnataka, shared her traumatic experience: “We were a group of 60 people traveling together. Suddenly, the crowd surged, and we got trapped. Many fell, and it became impossible to escape.”
The incident unfolded as pilgrims swarmed the Sangam and its 12-km stretch of ghats, anticipating the Amrit Snan. The Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, is considered one of the holiest sites for Hindus, where devotees believe they can cleanse their sins and achieve moksha (salvation).
Crowd Management Challenges
Despite the heavy crowd, Mela authorities had issued safety guidelines urging pilgrims to follow specific lanes, avoid lingering at the ghats, and remain patient while moving through barricades. Authorities also reminded the public that “all ghats at Sangam are equally sacred” and encouraged devotees to bathe at the first ghat they reached to avoid overcrowding.
Unfortunately, these precautions were not enough to prevent the chaos on Wednesday, highlighting the difficulty in managing such a massive event.
