Maha Kumbh Stampede: Early Crowd Surge, Broken Barriers Led to Tragedy-UP Police

Police cite premature gathering and barrier collapse as key reasons for the pre-dawn incident that claimed 30 lives.

January 30, 2025: New Delhi: The tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh occurred in the early hours of Wednesday due to an overwhelming crowd surge and a barrier collapse, according to Uttar Pradesh police. The incident, which claimed 30 lives, unfolded on Mauni Amavasya, one of the holiest days of the month-long festival, as devotees rushed to take a sacred dip at the confluence of rivers.

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Deputy Inspector General Vaibhav Krishna, stationed at the Maha Kumbh, explained that the gathering began earlier than anticipated. “Before Brahma Muhurta, between 1 AM to 2 AM, a massive crowd gathered on Akhara Marg. Due to the surge, the barricades on one side broke, leading to the crowd spilling onto the devotees waiting for the holy dip,” he said.

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Witness Accounts:

Families of victims believe the tragedy could have been averted with better crowd management. “If the barriers had been opened on time, this stampede would not have happened,” said Jagvanti, who lost her mother and sister-in-law in the incident. “No one came to help. People were trampling over each other.”

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Casualties and Medical Aid:

Out of the 90 injured, 36 are currently receiving treatment at the local medical college. Police confirmed that 25 of the 30 deceased have been identified, with the remaining including individuals from Karnataka, Assam, and Gujarat.

Government Response:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has formed a three-member judicial commission comprising Justice Harsh Kumar, former DGP VK Gupta, and retired IAS officer VK Singh to investigate the incident. Additionally, an ex gratia compensation of ₹25 lakh has been announced for the families of the deceased.

The stampede highlights the need for improved crowd management and proactive measures during large-scale religious gatherings to ensure the safety of devotees.

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Tags:

• Maha Kumbh Stampede
• Prayagraj Tragedy
• Mauni Amavasya Incident
• Crowd Management Failures
• Yogi Adityanath Response
• Judicial Commission Investigation
• Religious Festival Safety