Maha Kumbh stampede: Opposition alleges mismanagement

New Delhi: Opposition leaders expressed shock at the loss of lives and injury to many at the stampede at Sangam on Wednesday, even as they criticised what they termed administrative mismanagement in the arrangements for visiting devotees at the Mahakumbh.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge offered condolences to the families of the dead and wished speedy recovery to the injured. He said: "Half-baked arrangements, VIP movements, paying more attention to self-promotion than management, besides mismanagement were responsible for this... There are still many important royal baths to be conducted. So, the central and state governments should wake up now and improve arrangements so that such unpleasant incidents do not happen."

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, "Mismanagement and administration's special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident." West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said in a social media post, "My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved pilgrim families. My learning from our Gangasagar Mela is that planning and care must be maximal in matters relating to pilgrims' lives... Prayers for the departed souls."