New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has admitted to downplaying the stampede deaths that happened on Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where at least 30 persons were killed. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath made this revelation on March 3 while addressing a gathering of officials from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow and Indian Postal Services. The event was titled ‘Nation Building through the Mahakumbh’.
Adityanath said that he did not let the stampede, which took place in the early hours of January 29, ahead of the Mauni Amavasya holy bath get highlighted as he did not want it to create a situation of panic. The city of Prayagraj, along with the Kumbh Mela area, had around eight crore people at the time of the incident, he said, adding that his government acted swiftly to bring things under control. Prayagraj has a carrying capacity of only 25 lakh people.
“So that there was no panic after the incident…that’s why we took injured people to the hospital, where some died sadly, but we didn’t let it get highlighted, so that there was no panic,” said Adityanath.
Last month, Adityanath, facing allegations of suppressing the number of casualties in the Maha Kumbh stampede, said that 30 persons were killed due to the crush near the Sangam nose on Mauni Amavasya. However, he also acknowledged that seven others were killed in a similar incident in another area of the mela on the same day.
He spoke at length about the logistics of the Kumbh Mela, comparing the flow of pilgrims in the festival to the currents of the water in the river. If an obstacle was created in the flow or the currents, it would either break through or spill over to the sides. A crowd had a similar character, said Adityanath.
The stampede on Mauni Amavasya broke out between 1:15-1:30 am on January 29. Adityanath said that there was pressure from the crowd at all points. But despite the challenges and difficulties, a “green corridor” was created within 15 minutes to clear the way after the stampede, he said. The amrit snan of the 13 Hindu akharas was also postponed to later in the day on Adityanath’s request.
Adityanath had recently informed the UP assembly that 30 persons were killed in the stampede after barricades near the Sangam collapsed due to pressure from the crowd.
Out of the 30 dead, 29 had been identified. The DNA of the unidentified victim was preserved and the final rites were carried out by the administration, said Adityanath. Thirty-six were injured in the incident. Of these, 35 have been discharged and returned home, while one is still receiving treatment, he said.
Significantly, Adityanath also said that 30-35 persons were injured in other places in Prayagraj. “Pressure points were building up in other places in Prayagraj as well.” Seven persons died while being taken to the hospital or in hospital, he added, acknowledging at least two stampedes on Mauni Amavasya.
