30 dead, 60 injured in pre-dawn Maha Kumbh stampede for dip at the Sangam

The dead and injured were taken to medical facilities on the Maha Kumbh grounds and to hospitals in the city. Following the incident, the snans (ritual bath) were halted but resumed in the afternoon. Officials estimated that over 10 crore people had taken a dip in the waters until evening.

VIDEO | Maha Kumbh 2025: Addressing a press conference, DIG Kumbh Mela Vaibhav Krishna confirms 30 casualties in the stampede incident.

“On the Mauni Amavasya Snan, between 1 and 2 am ahead of the Brahm Muhurta, huge crowd gathered on the Akhara route, because of which the… pic.twitter.com/rgauSELmhJ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 29, 2025

Officials blamed the incident on the heavy rush towards the Sangam Nose and felling of barricades on the route meant for akharas headed for the Amrit Snan.

Witnesses said the stampede took place when a crowd going towards the Sangam ran into those returning. Other witnesses said barricades along the route meant for the akharas were felled and people charged towards the Sangam Nose.

Vaibhav Krishna, DIG Kumbh, said, “Thirty people have died out of which 25 have been identified. Sixty have been injured.”

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while condoling the deaths, announced the formation of a probe committee.

Crowds surge at the Mahakumbh grounds. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambhati)

“All these incidents are heartrending and a lesson as well. But we need to find the root cause of the incident… The government has decided to conduct a judicial inquiry. We have formed a three-member judicial commission, comprising Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG V K Gupta and retired IAS officer VK Singh,” he said. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “extremely sad” and said, “My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to Chief Minister Yogiji and I am in constant touch with the state government.”

Crowd at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29. (Express photo/ Chitral Khambhati)

Following the incident, Chief Minister Adityanath had urged devotees not to insist on taking a dip only at the Sangam Nose. He said several temporary ghats had been prepared for this.

#WATCH | On Mahakumbh stampede, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says “We are also announcing financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased who have lost their lives in the accident on behalf of the state government. The judicial commission will look… pic.twitter.com/XStIoFwQD0

— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

Ballia resident Baljeet Singh, whose wife Rinki died in the stampede, told The Indian Express: “It was around 1:30 at night. We were about 50 metres from the Sangam Nose when suddenly a huge crowd came towards us from the Sangam Nose end. Both crowds overlapped. There was no place to run or hide. I held on to my wife as long as I could but people stepped on me, and the crowd dragged me away.”