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Supreme Court calls Kumbh stampede ‘unfortunate’, asks petitioner to approach Allahabad HC

The PIL petition in the Supreme Court accused the Uttar Pradesh government of negligence and sought action against responsible officials over the Maha Kumbh stampede.

Ambulances make way at Maha Kumbh Mela after a stampede at Sangam ghat on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Terming the January 29 stampede at the ongoing Maha Kumbh “unfortunate”, the Supreme Court on Monday asked a public interest litigant who sought its intervention in the matter to approach the Allahabad High Court with his prayer.

“It’s an unfortunate incident, something which is of concern. But go to the High Court. There is already a judicial commission which has been constituted,” Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, presiding over a two-judge bench, told the petitioner, advocate Vishal Tiwari.

Appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi submitted that the judicial commission had indeed been set up to inquire into the incident and that a similar petition had been filed before the high court too.

Also Read | CM lauds akharas for ‘restraint’ post-stampede, says ‘conspiracy afoot against Sanatan Dharma’

The PIL petition accused the state of negligence and sought action against responsible officials. It claimed there were “lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration” on the part of the state government and sought directions for setting up a dedicated “devotee aid cell” for the Kumbh Mela.

Contending that stampedes were becoming a frequent affair, the plea also urged the court to direct states to frame policies to enhance crowd management.

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