NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh in the early hours of Wednesday. The incident led to multiple injuries, and several deaths are feared. He offered his condolences to the grieving families and wished the injured a quick recovery.
It is clear people losing their lives and many others getting injured in the stampede at Prayagraj Mahakumbh is really heartbreaking incident. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and I hope those injured recover soon,” Gandhi wrote on social media platform X.
As the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, he blamed the tragedy on poor crowd management and the administration’s misplaced priorities. He specifically criticized the excessive focus on VIP movements instead of ensuring the safety of ordinary devotees.
“Mismanagement and prioritizing VIPs over common devotees have led to this tragic incident,” he stated.
With more major bathing rituals yet to take place, Gandhi urged the government to take immediate steps to prevent another disaster. He emphasized the need for better arrangements to protect devotees.
“The Maha Kumbh still has many important bathing rituals ahead. The government must strengthen safety measures to prevent such incidents from happening again. VIP culture should be controlled, and better facilities must be provided for all devotees. I also urge Congress workers and leaders to assist the affected families,” he added.
What We Know So Far
The stampede occurred around 1:00 AM on Mauni Amavasya, the most sacred bathing day of the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela. The massive crowd pressure caused barriers near Sangam Ghat to collapse, leading to chaos. Authorities responded swiftly, with ambulances rushing the injured to nearby hospitals.
Special Executive Officer Akanksha Rana confirmed that the situation was under control. “There was a stampede-like situation after some barriers broke, causing injuries. However, the situation is not serious, and the injured are receiving medical treatment,” she said.
In Prayagraj, a stampede took place early on January 29 at the Sangam during the Mahakumbh Mela 2025. Thousands of devotees had gathered for a holy dip in the Ganga river on Mauni Amavasya when the incident happened. Reports suggest several people may have died, and many others were injured.