The Maha Kumbh Mela, touted as the world's largest religious gathering, turned tragic when at least 30 people lost their lives to a deadly stampede on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The stampede broke out as millions of Hindus flooded the northern Indian city of Prayagraj to participate in this revered festival, which draws devotees from across the globe.
According to reports, chaos ensued at the Sangam—an auspicious confluence of the sacred Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers—when pilgrims, many of whom were either sleeping near the riverbanks or eager to partake in one of the holiest rituals, were swept along by increasing crowds. Eyewitness accounts reveal harrowing scenes. "He was dragged in the chaos and we started crying… 'Let him free! Let him be! We are here!'...but he never came back," recounted Kaikeyi Devi, who watched as her husband was caught up in the throng.
The surge reportedly began as pilgrims rushed to join their fellow devotees for ritual bathing on what was recognized as one of the holiest days of the six-week-long festival. Tragically, the stampede claimed not only lives but sparked deep grief among families mourning their lost loved ones. Many families are still waiting to retrieve the bodies of their relatives, some are still searching for their missing loved ones, hoping for any glimmer of news.
Taposh Roy, who lost his brother, expressed his frustration over the delay from authorities. "He was just lying there for a long time because there was no ambulance to take him to the hospital," he told the Indian Express. Similar complaints were echoed by others like Tarun Bose from West Bengal, who lamented, "The authorities failed to rescue her and the police only managed to retrieve her body after an hour and a half. There were no police officers around during the accident."
This incident has led to widespread criticism of the festival's organizers and authorities, particularly concerning the alleged lack of effective crowd-control measures. Despite the deployment of artificial intelligence technology aimed at managing the massive crowds, the stampede occurred, raising questions about its efficiency. "The AI technology-enabled cameras were sending us timely alerts on crowd surge from every junction, but there were not enough policemen on the ground to prevent people from creating a jam where the stampede happened," explained one anonymous senior administrative official, noting the limitations of AI amid human crowd dynamics.
With over 400 million people expected to attend this year's Maha Kumbh Mela, extensive measures were taken to facilitate safety, including the use of more than 2,760 closed-circuit television cameras and drones monitoring the grounds. These technological tools were supposed to alert authorities about surges and other hazards, but their efficiency was called to question when it mattered most.
Families like Deepak Hattarwat's have found the joy of the festival replaced with unthinkable sorrow. He mourns the loss of his wife and daughter, who were attending the festival without him. "What should I do and for whom should I live now?" he lamented, capturing the emotional toll of the incident.
The aftermath of such tragedies often brings about immediate changes. The government of Uttar Pradesh has launched a judicial inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, and authorities have increased security measures. Access to the mela grounds has been restricted; vehicles are banned until February 4, the next expected day of massive crowds.
More than two days following the catastrophic event, some individuals are still searching for relatives. Manoj Kumar Sahni from Bihar shared his desperate quest for his father, who has been missing since the stampede occurred. "I went to the hospital as well, but didn't find him. We also searched at the railway station and the bus stand but did not find him," he said, illustrating the chaos and anxiety affecting families torn apart by the day's events.
This year's Maha Kumbh Mela, which commenced on January 13 and is set to continue until February 26, is now stained by tragedy. While authorities vow to improve measures for crowd safety moving forward, the scars left on the families of the deceased are bound to endure long after the festival has concluded. The enduring questions surrounding accountability and safety remain unanswered, leaving mourners to grapple with their immense loss in the weeks to come.