Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh):
DIG Mahakumbh, Vaibhav Krishna has ordered horse-mounted police personnel to move devotees to vacate the Triveni Sangam ghat.
Earlier, to ensure the security of all the devotees, amid massive crowds building in the Mahakumbh area on Mauni Amavasya, a team of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad along with a sniffer dog conducted regular checking of the area.
Speaking to ANI DIG Krishna addressed the ongoing crowd control measures at Triveni Sangam during Mahakumbh 2025, anticipating more than 10 crore people to arrive for the holy dip today.
#WATCH | Prayagraj #MahaKumbh2025 | DIG Mahakumb, Vaibhav Krishna orders horse-mounted police personnel to move devotees in order to vacate Triveni Sangam ghat pic.twitter.com/5Z3PHIndet
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025
“We expect more than 10 crore people today. All our officials and personnel have been deployed for crowd regulation since yesterday evening. People are bathing at all the ghats here peacefully,” Vaibhav Krishna said. He acknowledged the pressure from the large crowd in the morning but noted that many Akharas had agreed to delay their snan, allowing authorities to manage the crowd more effectively.
“Many Akharas told us to regulate the crowd and that they would come out for the snan later. Now that the crowd is under control, our preparations for the Akharas and saints are in place. The Akhara Marg and Akhara Ghat are ready,” he added.
The DIG confirmed that the entire area has been sanitized and communicated to the Akharas, who will soon begin their snan. Regarding the stampede, he stated, “We do not have official numbers of stampede victims since we have been involved in crowd control here. The injured are being treated.”
Meanwhile, Parmarth Niketan Ashram President Swami Chidanand Saraswati on Wednesday said that prayers were held for those injured in the recent stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela. He also informed that he has cancelled all his programs and is heading to the Sangam to meet people and the victims.
Speaking to ANI, Swami Chidanand Saraswati said, “As soon as I got to know about the stampede, we informed everyone at our camp that we would not do snan together today. Everyone is asked to take a dip at their nearest Ganga Ghat. We have cancelled ‘samoohik snan’. Everybody’s well-being and service shall be everyone’s priority right now. We have prayed for those who got injured in the incident. We have cancelled all our programs and are heading to the Sangam to meet people and the victims.
Earlier today, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev led a symbolic prayer and ‘snan’ ritual for the recovery of those injured in the incident and offered his prayers and good wishes for the affected individuals.
Speaking to ANI, Ramdev said, “We have taken a holy dip today keeping the injured persons in our prayers and wishing for their speedy recovery. We did a symbolic ‘snan’ today and prayed for the well-being of the people.”Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj of Juna Akhara speaking to ANI said, “Today’s snan was for the welfare of the world. I express my condolence for the accident which has occurred. I hope the families of the injured persons find strength. Due to this, we have postponed our Shobha Yatra today.
“A stampede-like situation arose at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj in the early hours of Wednesday, resulting in several injuries. This incident occurred as millions of devotees gathered at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which is also the day of the Second Shahi Snan.
Speaking to media, Special Executive Officer Akanksha Rana said, “On the Sangam routes, a stampede-like situation arose after some barriers broke. Some people have been injured. They are under treatment. It is not a serious situation.” Mauni Amavasya is considered one of the most significant days of the Mahakumbh Mela, attracting a massive influx of pilgrims from across the country.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, assuring him of full support from the Centre.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)