At least 30 dead, 60 injured near Triveni 'Sangam nose'
A stampede at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj during Mauni Amavasya resulted in 30 deaths and 60 injuries due to overcrowding. Efforts are underway to identify the deceased and treat the injured. A three-member investigation team has been formed, and finan...
By Sanjay Singh, ET Bureau | Updated:
AP
New Delhi: At least 30 people lost their lives and 60 others were injured following a stampede near the 'Sangam Nose' in the Mahakumbh area in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday. The incident occurred around 1 am due to overcrowding on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. Around 25 bodies have been identified while efforts are on to identify other bodies.
Around 36 persons injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Some injured persons have been taken by their family members. The administration has issued a helpline number (1920) to help devotees.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced financial help of ₹25 lakh for the family members of each deceased person.
The UP government has constituted a three-member team to probe the incident. The team will be headed by justice Harsh Kumar (retd). Retired DGP VK Gupta and retired IAS DK Singh will be its members.
The UP government's top officials, including chief secretary and DGP, will visit Prayagraj on Thursday to hold a meeting with officials for better crowd management.
As per reports, devotees started reaching ghats late on Tuesday evening. Gradually, size of the crowd near the 'Sangam Nose' (the confluence of the three sacred rivers) increased. Devotees wanted to take a holy dip in the wee hours of Wednesday on Mauni Amavasya.
The problem the police faced was that most devotees wanted to take a holy dip near the Sangam on Mauni Amavasya. The Triveni Sangam is considered the holiest by Hindus. Emphasising that "all ghats at the Sangam are equally sacred", the administration started urging devotees to "bathe at the first ghat they reach to prevent overcrowding". Later, sadhus and saints, associated with different akharas reached the ghats and took a holy bath by the end of Wednesday evening. Flowers were showered from a helicopter on sadhus, nagas, saints and devotees who had come to take a holy dip at the Sangam.
As per the Uttar Pradesh government, nearly 70 million people took a holy dip on Wednesday.
Around 36 persons injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Some injured persons have been taken by their family members. The administration has issued a helpline number (1920) to help devotees.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced financial help of ₹25 lakh for the family members of each deceased person.
The UP government has constituted a three-member team to probe the incident. The team will be headed by justice Harsh Kumar (retd). Retired DGP VK Gupta and retired IAS DK Singh will be its members.
The UP government's top officials, including chief secretary and DGP, will visit Prayagraj on Thursday to hold a meeting with officials for better crowd management.
As per reports, devotees started reaching ghats late on Tuesday evening. Gradually, size of the crowd near the 'Sangam Nose' (the confluence of the three sacred rivers) increased. Devotees wanted to take a holy dip in the wee hours of Wednesday on Mauni Amavasya.
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The problem the police faced was that most devotees wanted to take a holy dip near the Sangam on Mauni Amavasya. The Triveni Sangam is considered the holiest by Hindus. Emphasising that "all ghats at the Sangam are equally sacred", the administration started urging devotees to "bathe at the first ghat they reach to prevent overcrowding". Later, sadhus and saints, associated with different akharas reached the ghats and took a holy bath by the end of Wednesday evening. Flowers were showered from a helicopter on sadhus, nagas, saints and devotees who had come to take a holy dip at the Sangam.
As per the Uttar Pradesh government, nearly 70 million people took a holy dip on Wednesday.
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