Situation in Kumbh Mela moving towards normalcy after stampede
ARUN SRIVASTAVA IN PARYAGRAJ
At least 10 devotees were feared dead and several other injured after a stampede at Maha Kumbh. A huge number of devotees are expected to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, the day of second Shahi Snan, today.
The incident occurred around 2 am amid a sea of motely crowds converging at the Sangam and all other ghats created along a 12-km long range of river banks for the Maha Kumbh. Several people suffered injuries, while many families have been separated, witnesses told this correspondent.
Ambulances were rushed to the spot and the injured were shifted to a makeshift hospital in Sector 2 of Kumbh. Authorities appealed to the devotees to vacate the spot after taking a dip in the Sangam.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath thrice over the incident and is monitoring the situation, according to officials. The Prime Minister is giving directions for normalisation of the situation and relief.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda also spoke to Adityanath and assured all possible help from the central government.
AMRIT SNAN TO GO AS PLANNED
The Akharas (monastic orders) earlier announced that the Amrit Snan had been cancelled for today following the stampede. However, Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president Ravindra Puri said that Akharas will go ahead with the snan as planned after crowds thinned out following the stampede.
Situation in Kumbh Mela moving towards normalcy after stampede
Arun Srivastava. Prayagraj
After the stampede in the Kumbh Mela in the morning on the royal bath of Mauni Amavasya, the situation has started becoming normal after the prompt action of the administration and the passengers are now going back to the railway stations after bathing at the ghats. The administration is silent about the number of deaths but according to eyewitnesses, the unconfirmed number of unfortunate deaths of more than 15 pilgrims is floating here in the fair. The number of injured is also reported to be around 100.
After the incident, now the police administration is also relaxing the roads leading to the fair so that the passengers can vacate the fair area as soon as possible and go towards the railway / bus stations.
The Yogi administration was very cautious on Mauni Amavasya bathing day but due to VIP movement and all the pilgrims going towards Sangam Nose, the crowd became uncontrolled and an unfortunate incident happened. Yesterday also, due to the restriction imposed by the police on movement at various places, there were clashes between the public and the police personnel at many places. At one place, the public even attacked the officers’ vehicle.
At present, it is a matter of relief that the administration has controlled the situation and the public is coming out of the fair area after bathing and performing puja.