Akharas cancel 'Shahi Snan' as stampede erupts at Mahakumbh, administration urges devotees to withdraw

Uttar Pradesh: In a devastating turn of events, a stampede broke out at the Triveni Sangam during the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday morning, leaving at least 15 dead and many others injured. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. as massive crowds gathered for the sacred Amrit Snan on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The administration is now urging devotees to retreat to control the escalating chaos, while several akharas have postponed or canceled their Shahi Snan due to safety concerns.

Akharas calls off the Amrit Snan

The Juna Akhara and other prominent akharas have decided to postpone their holy dip, citing safety risks due to overcrowding. Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, stated, “You would’ve seen what happened in the morning, and that’s why we have decided to call off the snan. All of our saints and seers were ready, but the situation wasn’t suitable for the ritual.”

A seer from the Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara added, “The huge crowd and chaotic situation have made it impossible for Mahamandaleshwars to proceed with the snan.”

Crowd surge and safety concerns

The stampede reportedly began when a barrier broke under the pressure of the large crowd gathered at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Officer on Special Duty for the Mela, Akanksha Rana, confirmed that several people were injured and hospitalized following the incident. Authorities are urging devotees to treat other ghats as equal to the Sangam to reduce crowding.

Eyewitnesses recall horror

Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes as the stampede unfolded. A woman from Karnataka shared, “We came in a group of nine people, but suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. Many fell down, and the crowd became uncontrollable.” Another woman said, “There was no escape; the pushing came from all sides.”

Unprecedented footfall at Maha Kumbh

The Maha Kumbh has already seen a staggering footfall of 15 crore devotees, with over 4.8 crore taking the holy dip on Tuesday alone. On Mauni Amavasya, an estimated 10 crore pilgrims were expected to perform the Amrit Snan, making it one of the largest gatherings in history.