Maha Kumbh stampede: PM was in touch with UP CM, took stock of admin's relief efforts

New Delhi: As soon as the news of stampede at Mahakumbh during the Mauni Amavasya holy bath broke, Prime Minister Narendra Modi got in touch with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to know about the situation and the relief efforts being initiated to deal with the crisis.

Sources said that in his phone calls to the chief minister, the prime minister reviewed the developments and called for immediate support measures. Within an hour, he made a second call and continuously monitored the situation. He was in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. He made a third call to Yogi Adityanath before 9 am and gave directions for normalisation of the situation and providing relief to the affected pilgrims.

At an election rally in Kartar Nagar here, the prime minister referred to the Mahakumbh stampede. "I am deeply pained that in the disaster at the Mahakumbh we had to lose some pilgrims. Many also received injuries. I express my condolences to the family members of the deceased and pray for quick recovery of the injured.... Due to Mauni Amavasya, crores of devotees have reached there today. The process of holy baths was disrupted for sometime but now since a few hours the devotees have begun taking baths again. The way the holy bath has resumed with the composure and support of the devotees is a matter of great satisfaction for me," Modi said.