Rescue operation underway after a stampede occurred on 'Mauni Amavasya' during the ongoing 'Maha Kumbh Mela' festival, in Prayagraj, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.Photo: PTI Rescue operation underway after a stampede occurred on 'Mauni Amavasya' during the ongoing 'Maha Kumbh Mela' festival, in Prayagraj, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.Photo: PTI

A ‘stampede-like’ situation broke out at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj early Wednesday after a large number of pilgrims turned up to take a dip in Sangam on the occasion of ‘Mauni Amavasya’. The incident occurred around 2 am where several people, including women and children, suffered injuries with some feared dead.

Ambulances and police vehicles rushed to the Sangam and injured people were taken to the central hospital in the Mela area. Although the exact count of casualties is not clear yet, several media reports said that at least 10 people are feared dead and around 40 injured.

VIDEO | Maha Kumbh 2025: An ambulance makes its way from between the massive crowd at Mela area. #mahakumbh2025prayagraj #MahaKumbhWithPTI pic.twitter.com/boOjCuwjE1

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 29, 2025

“Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised after a barrier broke at the Sangam. We are yet to have the exact count of those injured,” PTI quoted Akanksha Rana, Officer on Special Duty for the Mela.

Following the incident, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri said that the seers have called off their Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan.

“You would've seen what happened in the morning, and that's why we have decided to... All of our saints and seers were ready for the ‘snan’ when we were informed about this incident. That's why we have decided to call off our ‘snan’ on 'Mauni Amavasya',” Mahant Ravindra Puri told PTI.

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As per the tradition, Akharas belonging to the three sects 'Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen' take the holy dip in a set sequence following a procession to the Sangam Ghat on special bathing dates like the Mauni Amavasya,ph11 which are marked by special celestial alignments and considered holy among Hindus.

However, with the situation now under control, the Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan has been resumed.

On Tuesday, a day before the Mauni Amavasya, nearly 5 crore people reached for the dip during the fair, according to estimates of the Uttar Pradesh government, which expects the crowd to be around 10 crore on Wednesday.

“We came in a batch of 60 people in two buses, we were nine people in the group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled. There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides,” Sarojini from Karnataka told PTI.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation in a call with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and called for immediate support measures.

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Meanwhile, spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur requested people not to insist on taking a bath at Sangam only. “... I did not go to the Sangam Ghat because the size of the crowds over there is massive... I appeal to the people that not insist on taking a bath at the Sangam Ghat only. The entire Ganga and Yamuna rivers are 'Amrit' right now…,” he said.

#WATCH | Maha Kumbh Stampede | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur says, "... I did not go to the Sangam Ghat because the size of the crowds over there is massive... I appeal to the people that not insist on taking a bath at the Sangam Ghat only. The… pic.twitter.com/2yaosBZA8H

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— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims. This year, a rare celestial alignment called 'Triveni Yog' is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day.

It is believed that taking a dip in the Triveni Sangam during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away people’s sins and provides them ‘moksha’ or salvation.lucky sprite