The incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered for the holy dip, causing extreme congestion. The Akharas were forced to temporarily call off the event due to the overwhelming rush.
The chaos began nearly a kilometer away from the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, when barricades collapsed, creating panic among the crowd. Several women fainted and were trampled in the ensuing commotion.
Emergency Response:
The injured were rushed to hospitals within the Maha Kumbh grounds, while critically injured individuals were taken to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College for treatment.
Eyewitness Accounts:
Witness Jay Prakash Swami recalled, "She was trapped under the crowd and couldn’t get up. We were stuck, but I managed to help my family escape."
Vidhya Sahu, who had traveled from Karnataka, stated, "People behind us pushed forward, causing chaos near a pole where many got stuck."
Security Measures:
Authorities halted the entry of devotees, implemented a crowd diversion plan, and reinforced security.
This year's Amrit Snan holds special significance due to the rare ‘Triveni Yog’ celestial alignment, which occurs once every 144 years. The unexpected rush of devotees has heightened challenges for authorities, who continue to urge caution among attendees.
