Preventing Tragic Incidents at the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela: A Collective Effort Needed from Both Government and Public

Following the tragic incident on the day of Makar Sankranti at the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela-2025, the Uttar Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has constituted an inquiry committee comprising retired IAS and IPS officers. This committee is expected to submit its report within a month.

Every day, over a million devotees gather at the Prayagraj Kumbh, and the state government claims that by February 26, the festival will see 45 crore pilgrims visiting. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a stampede occurred among the massive crowd, resulting in several deaths and injuries. Shockingly, even 12 hours after the incident, the exact number of casualties was not reported. Later, the Uttar Pradesh government released the death toll, but experts believe the actual number may be higher. In the aftermath, there was widespread chaos, and bathing at the Sangam was halted. The stampede occurred on January 29 during the second Amrit Snan of the Kumbh Mela. The overcrowding caused the barricades on the Akhada route to collapse, leading to a stampede where people trampled over others. This tragic incident resulted in the death of 30 devotees, with over 50 injured. Officials like Prayagraj’s DIG Vaibhav Krishna and Mela Officer Vijay Kiran Anand are under heavy pressure as this is not the first such incident at the Kumbh.

Earlier, on January 19, another unfortunate incident occurred in the Kumbh Mela area when a fire broke out at a camp near Shastri Bridge, Sector 19, in the Gita Press area. About 180 cottages were destroyed by the fire, and 13 LPG cylinders exploded, causing panic. The fire also destroyed five motorcycles and cash worth five lakh rupees. According to the Mela administration, 40 huts and six tents were also burned down, though the situation was later brought under control.

Following these two incidents, another fire broke out on Thursday, damaging several tents in the Kumbh area. Reports suggest that 10 to 15 pandals were completely destroyed. Fortunately, no major casualties were reported, as the fire occurred in an area that was not crowded with people. The fire was eventually brought under control by the fire brigade, and senior officers are monitoring the situation. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

The Prayagraj Kumbh, which is being held after 144 years according to astrological calculations, has received global attention, especially with the coverage by the Guinness World Records. This has led many people to visit Prayagraj to take a dip at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. However, with increasing demand, transportation costs have soared, and even with a large number of accommodations, space has become scarce. Despite this, the Uttar Pradesh government has received significant praise for the arrangements made for this year’s Kumbh. Over 20 crore devotees have already bathed at the Kumbh.

However, the opposition parties have been highly critical of the government following the incidents at Prayagraj. Experts argue that merely criticizing the situation is not productive, as similar incidents have occurred in places like Haridwar. Organizing a small event at home can be challenging, but in a global gathering like the Kumbh, with millions of people coming together, it’s important to focus on improving the event rather than criticizing it. The public must come forward to contribute to the success of this spiritual and religious gathering. 

It is also essential that the central, state, and local administrations work together without any bias or pressure to make long-term arrangements that prevent such tragic incidents from occurring at the Kumbh. Moving forward, it will be crucial for the Kumbh administration to learn from these incidents and ensure better arrangements for the rest of the event, ensuring its smooth conduct. Additionally, to prevent further tragedies at the Prayagraj Kumbh, both the government and the general public need to come together and offer their support.