As reports emerged of several deaths in a “stampede-like situation” at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged the public not to “pay attention to rumours”.
The Uttar Pradesh Police said that at least 30 people were killed and 60 others were injured in the incident that took place in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the ‘Amrit Snan’, according to media reports.
The police statement about the death toll came hours after Dainik Bhaskar reported that at least 40 people died in the stampede. Bhaskar’s reporter Srishti had counted 20 bodies at the local hospital, where the last corpse was numbered 40. Apart from this, bodies of at least 20 deceased people were handed over to their families, the Hindi daily reported.
A Reuters report also pegged the number of people killed at the stampede at 39. The outlet counted 39 bodies at the hospital’s morgue, and three police sources had confirmed a death toll of nearly 40, the report said.
India Today reported that a “barrier collapsed” and the crush “left many trapped and trampled”. Dainik Bhaskar said the entry and exit points were the same at Sangam Nose and this compounded the problem.
The state government has announced a solatium of Rs 25 lakh each for the families of the deceased. CM Yogi also said that a three-member judicial panel has been formed to probe the incident.
महाकुम्भ-2025, प्रयागराज में हुई घटना अत्यंत दु:खद है, मर्माहत करने वाली है।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 29, 2025
मृतकों को विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि व मेरी संवेदनाएं शोक संतप्त परिजनों के साथ हैं... pic.twitter.com/IuJ8Sz2GTh
As of now, security has been stepped up since the Kumbh has “eight to 10 crore” people in attendance, according to state government estimates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Adityanath four times since the stampede, Indian Express reported. The PM tweeted his condolences and said the local administration was “helping the victims in every possible way”.
According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, NSG commandos have taken charge of the Sangam bank and entry to Sangam Nose has been prohibited. To prevent crowding, devotees have reportedly been stopped in the districts adjoining Prayagraj.
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
Opposition leaders expressed condolences and hit out at the UP government for mismanagement. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the administration was focused on “VIP movement instead of common devotees”. Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress called the arrangements “half-baked” and “paying more attention to self-promotion than management”.
The official handle of the CPIM said the incident “exposes the mismanagement” of the Adityanath government “despite incurring huge expenses”.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav suggested the management of the Kumbh be “immediately handed over to the army” after the “truth behind the claims of ‘world-class system’ has been exposed”. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut held the administration “responsible for these deaths” and criticised arrangements made for devotees. Nilanjan Das, the state general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, called it a “man-made tragedy”.
In July last year, over 120 people were killed in a stampede in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras during a religious gathering.
Journalists were critical of how the mishap had been dealt with by the government.
a stampede-like situation???!
— Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) January 29, 2025
watching live news TV after months to get some sense of what has happened at the Kumbh, and all one sees is an attempt to downplay the extent of what has happened.
mainstream television anchors and reporters deserve both contempt & pity.
Urgh. Stop with the " #Kumbh #stampede is a tragedy but can't blame the govt " take.
— Vidya (@VidyaKrishnan) January 29, 2025
As if the govt was misled into organizing a small wedding & was taken by surprise when 50 mn people landed.
BJP- in Delhi & U.P- has been bragging abt Maha Kumbh.
They.are.responsible.
ABP news reporter @vivekraijourno interviewed witnesses at the Kumbh stampede site in Prayagraj.
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) January 29, 2025
The palpable anger of devotees over the alleged mismanagement at the Kumbh resulting in loss of multiple lives while administration continues to push "All is well" pic.twitter.com/Cg937bOhvk
Extremely disturbing news from Prayagraj of a stampede at the Maha Kumbh during Mauni Amasvya. Several injured, many feared dead. With millions of devotees pouring in, security is never easy but a day must surely come when the anonymous Indian has the same facilities at the Maha… https://t.co/KaeWzowQL6
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 29, 2025
Amazing. Senior UP police officer says he cannot give the official count of injured and dead during the stampede which occurred more than ten hours ago. #MahakumbhStampede https://t.co/HM0rX4mHkc
— Vijaita Singh (@vijaita) January 29, 2025
Can we please focus on the victims who died & who were injured in the stampede during the Khumb & share real time details & helpline numbers instead of parroting relentlessly that Modi has spoken to Yogi thrice. Stop your sycophancy for once Panna Pramukhs
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) January 29, 2025
But this isn’t the first stampede at the Kumbh Mela. As reported by India Today, in 1954, during the first ever Kumbh after independence, almost 800 were “trampled to death or drowned”. A stampede in 1986 killed 200, another in 2003 killed at least 39.
Update at 8:50 on January 29: The headline and copy have been updated with additional details.
This is a developing story.
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