January 29, 2025: A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Wednesday left at least 15 people feared dead as lakhs of devotees gathered at Sangam for a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The incident occurred in the early hours as the massive influx of pilgrims overwhelmed crowd management efforts.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, with multiple ambulances transporting the injured to the central hospital inside the Mela grounds. According to sources, at least 15 bodies have been brought to the hospital so far, while several others sustained injuries.

Mauni Amavasya is considered one of the most sacred days of the Maha Kumbh, attracting millions of devotees who seek spiritual purification through the 'Amrit Snan' (holy bath). However, as the pressure of the crowd increased, the Mela administration was forced to intervene, urging pilgrims to leave the ghats after their ritual bath to prevent congestion.

Despite announcements from the public address system urging people to vacate the area, the chaotic situation led to a stampede-like scenario, compelling many devotees to return without completing their holy dip. In response to the tragedy, the Akharas called off their traditional ‘Amrit Snan’ for Mauni Amavasya, although a large number of pilgrims continued with their rituals at Sangam and other ghats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi promptly reviewed the situation in a phone call with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Official sources confirmed that Modi has been closely monitoring the developments and has spoken to Adityanath twice, instructing immediate relief and support measures.

The Uttar Pradesh government had anticipated a turnout of around 10 crore devotees for the Mahakumbh on Mauni Amavasya and had ramped up security and crowd management systems accordingly. In light of the incident, authorities issued an advisory urging devotees to consider all ghats as equal to the Sangam to avoid overcrowding. Additionally, the administration plans to shower 25 quintals of rose petals on devotees from helicopters as part of the event arrangements.

The tragic stampede has raised concerns over safety measures at the world's largest religious gathering, prompting officials to reassess crowd control mechanisms for the remaining days of the Maha Kumbh 2025.