2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela crowd crush

{{Short description|Crowd crush in January 2025 at the Kumbh Mela festival}}

{{Infobox event

| partof = 2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela

| title = 2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela crowd crush

| image =

| caption = 2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela

| date = {{start date|df=yes|2025|01|29}}

| place = Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

| coordinates = {{coord|25.431388|N|81.887971|E|display=inline,title}}

| also_known_as = 2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela Crowd collapses

| type = Crowd collapses and Stampede

| cause = Broken barrier

| reported deaths = *30 (Official)

37-79 (Sources disputed)

| reported injuries = *60 (Official)

90-200 (Sources)

| map = {{Location map

| India Uttar Pradesh#India

| places =

|lat= 25.431388

|long= 81.887971

|label=Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela stampede

|mark=Red pog.svg

| position = top

| caption =

| width = 240

| float = center

| relief = yes

}}

On 29 January 2025, crowd crushes occurred at the 2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela{{Cite web |title=Kumbh Mela: Worshippers feared killed in crowd crush at huge Indian religious festival |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cgq07z0yexvt |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Regan |first=Helen |date=29 January 2025 |title=Several injured in crowd crush at India's Kumbh Mela religious festival |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/28/india/crowd-crush-kumbh-mela-india-intl-latam-hnk/index.html |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}} at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj,{{Cite news |last=Livingstone |first=Helen |date=29 January 2025 |title=India crowd crushes: dozens feared dead at Kumbh Mela religious festival – latest updates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/india-crowd-crush-kumbh-mela-religious-festival-live-blog-injuries-prayagraj |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. At least 30{{Cite news |last1=Belam |first1=Martin |last2=Lamb |first2=Kate |last3=Livingstone |first3=Helen |date=29 January 2025 |title=Police in India confirm 30 dead and 60 injured in the stampede at Maha Kumbh|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/india-crowd-crush-kumbh-mela-religious-festival-live-blog-injuries-prayagraj?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-6799e0918f086988fc900b96 |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} people were killed, while 90 others were injured.{{Cite web |date=29 January 2025 |title=30 dead, 90 injured in stampede at Maha Kumbh; Yogi Adityanath orders judicial inquiry |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/multiple-people-dead-in-stampede-at-maha-kumbh-amid-surge-of-devotees-on-mauni-amavasya-13857553.html |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=Firstpost}} This is the sixth crowd crush during the Kumbh Mela in the past 70 years.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-29 |title=Deaths after the surge: On the stampede at the Maha Kumbh |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/deaths-after-the-surge-on-the-stampede-at-the-maha-kumbh/article69155298.ece |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

A second crush in the following hours{{Cite web |last1=Sharma |first1=Saurabh |last2=Patel |first2=Shivam |date=30 January 2025 |title=Millions of Hindus take 'holy dip' a day after fatal stampede |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-orders-probe-into-kumbh-festival-stampede-that-killed-dozens-2025-01-30/ |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=Reuters}} killed seven people including a three-year-old child.{{Cite web |last=John |first=Kenneth |date=31 January 2025 |title=A second crush 3km away claimed 7 lives |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/maha-kumbh-stampede-a-second-crush-3km-away-claimed-7-lives-101738290896387.html |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=Hindustan Times}} The official death toll count has been disputed, with reports suggesting the actual number of fatalities being higher than the government’s figure. A Newslaundry report based on hospital and police records claims the death toll to be at least 79.{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Basant |title=Exclusive: Hospital, police records suggest at least 79 deaths in Kumbh stampede |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2025/02/05/exclusive-hospital-police-records-suggest-at-least-79-deaths-in-kumbh-stampede |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Newslaundry |date=5 February 2025}} These discrepancies have led to criticism of the government’s handling of the incident and calls for greater transparency.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2025 |title= Moments before deadly stampede at India's Maha Kumbh, devotees pleaded to open more routes|url= https://www.reuters.com/world/india/moments-before-deadly-stampede-indias-maha-kumbh-devotees-pleaded-open-more-2025-01-30/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Reuters}}

Background

The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu festival which is held every 12 years and lasts for around six weeks. It is considered as one of the most important festivals in the Hindu religious calendar. The 2025 edition was expected to see 400 million people in attendance. Multiple crowd crushes have occurred during the festival, with at least 400 people dying in the 1954 edition and 36 killed in an incident at Railway station at 2013.

Incident

The incident occurred during the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya,{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Helen Regan, Lauren |date=29 January 2025 |title=Multiple people killed in crowd crush at world's largest religious festival |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/28/india/crowd-crush-kumbh-mela-india-intl-latam-hnk/index.html |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}} which was regarded as the most important day of the festival.{{Cite web |title=Thirty killed in crowd crush at India's Kumbh Mela festival |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rwjnr12lwo |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=BBC |language=en-UK}} On the day of the incident, around 100 million people were expected to be in attendance. The crush started at around 1 am IST, when the crowd surged forward to bathe at the confluence of three rivers, which is considered the holiest place to bathe.{{Cite news |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=29 January 2025 |title=Dozens feared dead in India at Kumbh Mela religious festival |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/india-crowd-crush-kumbh-mela-religious-festival-death-toll-injuries-prayagraj |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The festival's special executive officer Akanksha Rana said the incident began after a festival barrier broke, while Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath blamed the incident on devotees trying to cross over barricades delineating the designated bathing area for akharas.

As pilgrims tried to escape from the site of the first crush, which officials said was "not serious", they were caught up in another crowd crush at an exit. They then returned towards the pontoon bridges looking for another exit, generating another crush when it was found that the bridges had been closed by authorities. Some attendees resorted to jumping over barricades.{{Cite web |title=Several people are feared dead in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India |url=https://apnews.com/article/india-maha-kumbh-hinduism-stampede-da4a3423bf2fd1c06f7c730e65dc1350 |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=AP News |language=en-US}} Officials tried to divert incoming crowds away from the site of the crush and told them using megaphones to bathe at other locations but were sidelined by attendees.{{Cite web |title=Dozens of worshippers killed in stampede at world's largest religious festival in India |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250129-15-dead-in-india-after-stampede-at-hindu-mega-festival |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en-US}}

Casualties

Conflicting reports emerged over the number of casualties, with the number of deaths ranging from 15 people to 79, and the number of injured estimated to be at least 200.{{Cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Hari |last2=Das |first2=Anupreeta |date=2025-01-29 |title=Stampede at India's Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu Festival: Many Feared Dead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/world/asia/india-stampede-maha-kumbh-festival.html |access-date=2025-01-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The Guardian reported that at least 39 people were killed, with the death toll expected to rise. An investigation by Newslaundry put the toll at 79.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Hospital, police records suggest at least 79 deaths in Kumbh stampede|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2025/02/05/exclusive-hospital-police-records-suggest-at-least-79-deaths-in-kumbh-stampede|access-date=6 February 2025 |website=Newslaundry |language=en}} A sting operation conducted by 4PM news network, reported the death toll as 58.{{Cite news| last=Yadav |first=Yogesh|title=महाकुंभ में हुई भगदड़ का मामला पहुंचा सुप्रीम कोर्ट, याचिका दाखिल | work=4PM |url=https://4pm.co.in/supreme-court-petition-reached-the-case-of-stampede-in-mahakumbh/121795 |access-date=30 January 2025|date=30 January 2025}} The victims were transported to makeshift hospitals at the festival site as well as a hospital in Prayagraj city.{{Cite web |title=At least 15 killed in stampede at India's Kumbh Mela festival |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-29/stampede-kumbh-mela-festival-india-15-killed-crowd/104870770 |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=ABC News|language=en-AU}}

Some of them were sleeping on the river bank when they were trampled on by other worshippers trying to bathe.{{Cite web |title=Worshippers killed in India stampede at world's largest religious festival |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250129-15-dead-in-india-after-stampede-at-hindu-mega-festival |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en-US}} Others sleeping on the river bank were beaten with wooden sticks by police trying to move them before the crowds arrived.{{Cite web |title=Crowd chaos and confusion at site of India festival stampede |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250129-crowd-chaos-and-confusion-at-site-of-india-festival-stampede |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en-US}} Authorities initially denied that the crush or casualties had occurred before announcing on the evening of 29 January that at least 30 people had died.{{Cite web |title=Critics say image concerns behind Indian stampede information blackout |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250131-critics-say-image-concerns-behind-indian-stampede-information-blackout |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en-US}}

Response

The Rapid Action Force was deployed to the scene. In a phone call with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for "immediate support measures". He later expressed condolences to the victims. Several Akharas decided to cancel their participation in the Amrit Snan.{{cite news |title=Akharas cancel Mauni Amavasya 'Amrit Snan' after 'stampede-like' situation at Mahakumbh, casualties feared |url=https://theprint.in/india/akharas-cancel-mauni-amavasya-amrit-snan-after-stampede-like-situation-at-mahakumbh-casualties-feared/2467811/ |publisher=The Print |date=29 January 2025}} The Government of Uttar Pradesh ordered a retired judge to conduct an investigation.{{cite news |title=Families in India cremate loved ones killed in stampede at religious festival |url=https://apnews.com/article/india-stampede-cremation-religious-festival-maha-kumbh-05d1f141128346a522c076445d6818ed |publisher=AP News |date=31 January 2025}} The administration also revoked VIP passes to streamline people’s entry. Earlier, those having VIP passes were allowed access to tents of Akhadas and sadhus in various sectors.{{Cite news |last=Dixit |first=Pawan |date=Jan 31, 2025 |title=Mahakumbh a no-vehicle zone till February 4, VIP passes cancelled |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/mahakumbh-a-no-vehicle-zone-till-february-4-vip-passes-cancelled-101738266722766.html |work=Hindustan Times}}

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi blamed the incident on "mismanagement" and a "focus on VIP movement" by organisers, which were also part of recurring complaints by ordinary attendees.

Despite the crush, the festival continued, with about 30 million people having taken a bath in the area by 8 am on 29 January.{{cite news |title=Police say at least 30 people have died in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India |url=https://apnews.com/article/india-maha-kumbh-hinduism-stampede-da4a3423bf2fd1c06f7c730e65dc1350 |publisher=AP News |date=29 January 2025}} Authorities banned vehicles, except for police vehicles, administration vehicles, ambulances, and other essential service providers, from entering the festival grounds until 4 February.{{cite news |title=Families mourn loved ones who died in Kumbh Mela crush |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99y7mjne54o |publisher=BBC |date=31 January 2025}}