Maha Kumbh stampede developments: 30 dead, 60 injured in Prayagraj; judicial probe ordered

“At least 30 people have lost their lives and 60 others have been injured in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh venue in Prayagraj,” said Vaibhav Krishna, DIG Mahakumbh. He added that the stampede took place between 1-2 a.m., when a huge crowd broke the barricades, which led to casualties.

Multiple casualties took place as a stampede broke out at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday (January 29, 2025) as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

While the Uttar Pradesh government has remained tight-lipped about the number of casualties, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and many Union Ministers, several Chief Ministers and Opposition leaders across parties offered their condolences to the victims and their families.

Meanwhile, ‘amrit snan’, the traditional bathing ritual of akharas that was deferred due to the stampede, resumed at 2.30 p.m. The procession, notably less grand than usual, was led by Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said some devotees were “seriously injured”. The incident took place between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara marg, he said.

Security personnel and rescue workers were seen carrying many of the injured on stretchers. People’s belongings, including blankets and bags, lay strewn around.