Stampede at Maha Kumbh: 30 Women Injured Ahead of Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya

The massive influx of devotees into Prayagraj's tent city for the 'Amrit Snan' had led to overcrowding near the Sangam.

A stampede-like situation occurred at the Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya morning on Wednesday (29 January), leaving around 30 women injured, forcing the Akharas to cancel their holy dip.

The massive influx of devotees into Prayagraj's tent city for the 'Amrit Snan' had led to overcrowding near the Sangam.

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Barricades broke due to the rising crowd pressure, and women fainted. As unconscious women fell, panic started spreading, resulting in a stampede-like situation.

The medical teams brought the injured to the Maha Kumbh Mela hospital while badly injured ones were referred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College.

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After the incident, Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri confirmed the cancellation of seers' Amrit Snan.

"You would have seen what happened in the morning, and that's why we have decided to. All of our saints and seers were ready for the 'snan' when we were informed about this incident. That's why we have decided to call off our 'snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya', Mahant Ravindra Puri was quoted as saying by PTI.

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Juna Akhara Patron and Akhara Parishad General Secretary Mahant Hari Giri requested devotees to take holy bath in Ganga where ever possible and return home.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and ordered immediate relief measures.

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As a precautionary measure, authorities closed pontoon bridges at various places within the fairgrounds to avoid more mishaps.

Officials expect a total turnout of 10 crore on the event day, with nearly five crore devotees arriving a day ahead of the second Amrit Snan.

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Stringent security protocols were in place, incorporating AI-powered surveillance, drone patrols, and heightened police deployment.

To ease congestion, the Mela area was declared a no-vehicle zone, and local residents were urged to avoid four-wheelers, permitting two-wheelers only for senior citizens commuting to the Sangam.

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More than 1,000 medical professionals are deployed across the Maha Kumbh fairgrounds. Preparations for minor and major surgeries have been made in every sector.

There is a super-specialty hospital, Mahakumbh Nagar, staffed by 300 specialist doctors to deal with emergency cases.

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The most sacred ritual of the Maha Kumbh is Mauni Amavasya's Amrit Snan. This year, its spiritual significance is amplified by the rare 'Triveni Yog,' a celestial event that occurs once every 144 years.

According to Kumbh Mela tradition, Akharas from the three sects—Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen—participate in the holy dip in a predetermined sequence, following a grand procession to the Sangam Ghat.

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Seers and saints, including the ash-covered Nagas, bathe at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya.

Mauni Amavasya is considered to be the holiest of all bathing days. According to devotees, water from the river turns into 'Amrit' on this day.

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The government had planned to shower the pilgrims with 25 quintals of rose petals from an aerial platform.

In the past 17 days, Maha Kumbh 2025 has seen over 15 crore pilgrims take a holy dip. On Tuesday alone, 4.80 crore devotees participated—outnumbering the 3.5 crore attendees of Makar Sankranti’s Amrit Snan, as per Uttar Pradesh government data.

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Commencing on 13 January, the Maha Kumbh will conclude on 26 February.

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