Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 30 : Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Kumar Nishad expressed his sorrow over the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on Thursday, offering condolences to the victims and their families, assuring that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered a probe into the matter.
Sanjay Kumar Nishad acknowledged that people from various states attended the event and emphasised the need for both the state government and opposition to collaborate in preventing such incidents in the future.
Speaking with ANI, UP minister Nishad said, "This is a tragic incident. We are sad about what happened...CM has ordered a probe into this... Opposition will make their statements but UP is a big state and people from other states are also coming (for the event)... Both the state government and the opposition together need to work to ensure such incidents don't repeat.
On Wednesday, during a press conference, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, said, "A total of 30 people have died, unfortunately, in the stampede that took place at the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj. Twenty-five bodies have been identified and the remaining five are yet to be identified."
The DIG also stated that among the deceased, four were from Karnataka, one from Assam, and one from Gujarat. Additionally, 36 people were receiving treatment at a local medical college.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is taking place in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26, 2025. According to tradition, pilgrims gather at the Sangam--the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the now-extinct Saraswati rivers--to take a holy dip, which is believed to absolve sins and grant moksha (liberation).
The remaining significant 'snan' dates in Maha Kumbh are February 3 (Basant Panchami--Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).