A moment of spiritual devotion turned into chaos as a deadly stampede tragedy at the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 claimed 30 lives and left over 60 injured in the early hours of Mauni Amavasya, a key bathing day of the festival. The tragedy occurred between 1 and 2 am when a crowd of pilgrims surged toward the holy Sangam to make a dip, overwhelming protective measures.
What Led to the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Tragedy?
According to officials, the crisis was triggered when barricades set up for crowd control gave way, causing devotees in long queues to fall over those resting on the ground. The resulting panic led to a deadly crush, with many unable to escape the stampede.
Emergency crews also responded quickly, moving a total of 90 injured persons to hospitals. Although some received discharge following treatment, 36 are still receiving medical care. Of the deceased, 25 have been identified, with victims coming from Karnataka, Assam, and Gujarat.
Government Response & Crowd Management
After the mishap, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath requested the religious leaders and Akharas to postpone the ceremonial Amrit Snan to alleviate the crowd at the bathing ghats. Despite the morning turmoil, authorities managed to restore order, allowing the postponed rituals to resume safely. As of 5 pm, it is estimated that six crore devotees have managed to partake of their holy dip.
Officials have guaranteed that further security steps will be taken to avoid similar incidents in the future. The stampede has created deep concerns related to crowd control at vast religious festivals, and therefore, protocols of safety need to be reviewed for the rest of Mahakumbh.