Kumbh-Stampede

KUMBH MELA, is considered to be the largest religious congregation in the world. This year’s Kumbh is being called as Maha Kumbh and it is being held in Prayagraj (Allahabad) from 13^th January and will continue till 26^th February 2025.  Last Wednesday, Mauni Amavasya (No moon day) was considered an auspicious day to take a holy dip in the river Ganga. A stampede incident happened in the early morning(2 am), and as per official reports, 30 people died in this stampede. This is not the first time this type of incident happened during Kumbh; similar incidents also happened earlier. Here is the list of earlier incidents:

1 1954– The Kumbh Mela of 1954, the first-ever Kumbh held after independence, was a landmark event for India, but it is also remembered as a tragedy. On 3^rd February 1954, a stampede tragedy broke out when scores of devotees thronged the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya. Nearly 800 people were trampled to death or drowned in the river.

2 1986– The Kumbh Mela in Haridwar witnessed a tragic stampede that claimed at least 200 lives. The chaos unfolded when the then CM of UP, Veer Bahadur Singh, arrived in Haridwar along with MPs of various States. As security personnel restricted the common people from accessing the riverbanks, the crowd turned uncontrollable, leading to deadly stampede.

3 2003-A stampede in Maharashtra’s Nashik killed dozens when thousands of devotees gathered at Godavari river for the holy dip during the Kumbh Mela. At least 39 people, including women, were killed and more than 100 people were injured in this stampede.

4 2013 A stampede took place at Allahabad railway station during the Kumbh Mela on 10^th February 2013, after a footbridge collapsed, triggering widespread panic. The tragedy claimed 42 lives and left 45 others injured.

5 2025– This incident occurred around 2 am on last Wednesday, amid a tightly-packed crowds converging at the Sangam and all other Ghats created along 12 Km long range of river banks of the Maha Kumbh.

Now the opposition parties are stalling Parliament on this issue, and blaming the UP government for this tragedy, and they want UP CM to resign.

It is time to recall, when in 1954 the stampede tragedy occurred at Kumbh Mela, that time also matter went to the Parliament. At that time, then PM Nehru made a statement in Parliament that “UP government had taken great pains to make satisfactory arrangements for the great concourse of human beings. We admit that the occurrence of trouble, but with all precautions the tragedy happened. It is the people who believe that taking a dip in Ganga river during Kumbh will wash their sins”. He made clear that his stand against astrologers/pundits and described them and others of that category as the ‘most undesirable crew’ doing a lot of harm to our country, and they are spreading superstitions. He also said ‘ I was brought up in Allahabad, and enjoyed bathing in the Ganga, but I never bathed in the Ganga on these so called sacred occasions.

His opinion on this issue indicated that he is not in love with Sanatan Dharam.

Congress and other opposition parties are unnecessary trying to create a controversy on this stampede issues, as if there were no stampede during the time when they were ruling at the Centre and State of UP. They can not digest the fact this Maha Kumbh, which has come after 144 years is so well managed barring few incidents, and it is being well appreciated all over the world for the arrangements and facilities. When more that Crore of people visit one place in a day , few glitches are bound to happen, but Congress and other opposition parties can not digest the fact tha this Maha Kumbh has awaken the followers of Sanatan Dharam.

In the world there is one  more occasion, which happens every year, and that is congregation of Muslim devotees during Hajj at Saudi Arabia for a period of 5 to 6 days, but people come two weeks earlier and stay one week after the actual Hajj. Do you know how many times tragedies like stampede happened during Hajj:

1 1990 Mecca Tunnel Tragedy–  On 3^rd July 1990, 1426 people were suffocated and trampled to death in a crowd rush or stampede in a tunnel near Mecca during the Hajj.

2 1994 Hajj Stampede– this resulted in the deaths of at least 270 pilgrims on 23^rd may 1994 during the Haj in Mecca during the Stoning of the Devil ritual.

3 1998 Hajj Stampede– this resulted in deaths of 118 pilgrims on 9^th April 1998 during Stoning of the Devil ritual.

4  2001 Hajj Stampede– this incident resulted in the deaths of at least 35 pilgrims on 5^th March 2001 during the stoning of the Devil event.

5 2004 Hajj Stampede– this resulted in the deaths of at least 251 pilgrim son 1^st February 2024 during the ritual of stoning of three pillars in the Mina valley, close to Mecca on the final day of Hajj.

6 2006 Hajj Stampede– this resulted in the deaths of 363 pilgrims on 12 January 2006, it took place on Jamaraat Bridge on 12^th January 2006 on the final day of the Hajj. Earlier on 5^th January at least 76 pilgrims died when a Hostel collapsed in Mecca.

7  2015 Mina Stampede– On 24^th September, a fatal crowd crush resulted in the death of more than 2000 individuals, many of whom were suffocated or crushed, during hajj pilgrimage in Mina., making it the deadliest Hajj disaster in history.

What does all these incidents at Kumbh and Hajj prove? It only means that when a very large congregation of people happens at one area, whatever arrangements you make there is every chance of stampede happening. It is up to the people to take care and not to add more crowd at the particular location. But with people psychology and religious thinking these types of incidents do happen, and whatever precaution government and other agencies take, in the end they result in failure.

The politicians should not make a political issues out of this type of tragedies, yes they have right to question the present government, but asking for resignation of CM is not asked for. They should remember, when next time  there is a government headed by their parties, there is no guarantee that these incidents will not happen.

Waiting for your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

5^th February 2025