A stampede during the most auspicious day of the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, resulted in at least 30 deaths and 60 injuries. Millions of devotees continued to gather for the religious event, but the tragedy has sparked calls for improved crowd management.
Millions of devout Hindus gathered in the northern India n city of Prayagraj on Thursday for the Maha Kumbh festival, a day after a deadly stampede marred the most auspicious day of the six-week event. Krishna Soni, a student from Rajasthan’s Bikaner city, and his family of eight linked themselves together with string to ensure they wouldn’t get separated in the massive crowd.
Police reported 30 fatalities and 60 injuries from the crush on Wednesday, but sources indicated the death toll was closer to 40. This tragedy occurred when surging crowds moved towards the river to take a ceremonial dip. Indian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. More than 76 million people participated in the “royal dip” in the river waters on Wednesday until 8 p.m. (1430 GMT), and three more “royal dips” are scheduled before the festival concludes. On Thursday, over nine million people took a “holy dip” at the confluence of three sacred rivers by 10 a.m (0430 GMT), according to officials. Devotees take “holy dips” daily, but on specific dates, the practice is considered particularly sacred and known as a “royal” dip, attracting larger crowds.Devout Hindus believe that taking a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers absolves them of sins and offers salvation from the cycle of birth and death. The Hindu festival, held every 12 years, is projected to attract approximately 400 million devotees in 2025, according to officials. To put this into perspective, the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia drew 1.8 million people last year.Railway and bus stations across Prayagraj witnessed a surge in crowds on Thursday as people continued to arrive for the festival, but authorities stated that the rush was being managed effectively and there were no further incidents. Opposition leaders have criticized the government for mismanagement and urged improvements in festival arrangements. Local media echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need for better crowd planning to prevent similar tragedies.“There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh,” stated the Hindustan Times newspaper in an editorial. Authorities constructed a temporary city spanning 4,000 hectares (9,990 acres) on the riverbanks – the size of 7,500 football fields – complete with 150,000 tents to accommodate devotees and an almost equal number of toilets. More than 50,000 personnel are deployed to ensure the safety of visitors
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