It is the most unfortunate incident of stampede in Maha Kumbha Parva resulting in the death of innocent devotees. Shedding light on the exact reasons, flaws in administrative arrangements and solutions.
1. Massive and uncontrolled crowd:
The present Maha Kumbha Parva is held in Prayagraj after 144 years; therefore, a large number of devotees have come to Prayagraj from India and other countries. The Administration was expecting around 100 million devotees on 29.01.2025, the day of ‘Mouni Amavasya’ and accordingly, arrangements were made by them along with the Police Department; however, the arrangements were not flawless which was the main cause of stampede. Millions of devotees started coming to Prayagraj 1-2 days before ‘Mouni Amavasya’ which affected the transport in Prayagraj and Kumbha Kshetra. It was taking 1-2 hours to travel a distance of 1 km. It was observed 1-2 days before the incident that the crowd was becoming uncontrollable. Why did the administration take at that time to find a solution ?
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2. Closing most of the Pontoon bridges for traffic was a blunder:
The administration made an issue of not allowing devotees on Pontoon bridge (a temporary bridge built on the river for commuting across the river). On the days of the first important holy bath on 13.01.2025 and the second holy ‘Amrit’ bath on 14.01.2025, the administration initially allowed devotees to use only two bridges and later, 2-3 bridges, besides, allowing ‘Akharas’ to use other two bridges out of the 30 temporary bridges. On those days too, a similar stampede-like situation was created. Why all the bridges were not allowed to be used is a mystery. It was, in fact, a blunder.
3. Where did the administration go wrong ?
A. Same planning for 35 million devotees and 100 million devotees:
The administration made full arrangements for the ‘Amrit -snan’ scheduled on ‘Mouni Amavasya’. After managing the two earlier days of holy bath, the Police and administration was oozing with confidence; however, there was no change in the planning of ‘Amrit-snan’ on ‘Mouni Amavasya’, though three times more devotees were expected to visit. In short, the arrangements for 350 million devotees were the same as arrangements for 100 million devotees, barring few arrangements. The policy of Police-administration was not to allow devotees to go to the ‘Sangam-nose’ due to its limited capacity. How did the devotees then reach the ‘Sangam-nose’ ? What the Police were doing, is what people want to know.
B. No instructions to devotees about use of ‘Sangam-nose’:
The Government did not properly instruct the devotees about using other ‘ghats’ for the holy dip instead of going to ‘Sangam-nose’. The Chief Minister though made a fleeting mention of it in his speech; but such things are required to be continuously told to devotees 8-10 days before the holy baths, by using social media and other media. It was, however, not done. The administration only issued a press note about ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ for people.
C. Absence of Notice boards and Boards giving direction:
Devotees wouldn’t have known that they were not to go to ‘Sangam-nose’ because there were no notice boards either at the ‘Sangam-nose’ or even at Kumbha Kshetra. Such boards are not there even today. It creates confusion for devotees and triggers arguments when Police stop them from going. Police manpower is also wasted for stopping devotees in the absence of notice boards. A devotee coming there for the first time doesn’t know the location of ‘Sangam-nose’ or how to reach there. Had the administration displayed such notice boards, it would have saved the rush at ‘Sangam-nose’. Why a basic requirement like display of notice boards was not fulfilled by the administration is beyond understanding.
4. Loudspeakers not used effectively:
The Government has placed many loudspeakers especially at ‘Sangam-nose’; but they are not effectively used. Announcements are made only 2-3 times and the instructions given on loudspeaker are not clear and audible. Had the instructions been given clearly to devotees, the stampede could have been avoided. It can, therefore, be said that flaws in arrangements and over confidence on the day of ‘Amrit-snan’ on ‘Mouni Amavasya’ were responsible for the stampede.
5. Devotees must have self-control:
The other main reason for pandemonium is indiscipline in devotees. Devotees need to think about others while going for a bath so that they don’t cause inconvenience to other devotees. It is, therefore, necessary to impart Dharmashikshan to people so that the qualities like self-restraint, presence of mind, thinking about others will be inculcated in them and such incidents will be avoided in future.
– Nilesh Kulkarni, special correspondent, Sanatan Prabhat, Prayagraj
‘Sanatan Prabhat’ had drawn attention of the administration to various issues 15 days earlier![]() In its issue of 14 th January 2025, after the first holy bath of Kumbha Parva, ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ newspaper had published information under a heading ‘Scope for improvement in arrangements; Police-administration manage to get just passing marks in test’. The administration’s attention was drawn to the issues like mismanagement of pantun bridges, lack of notice boards, etc. Had the administration paid attention and taken remedial action, maybe the unfortunate incident like stampede would have been avoided. |