Mahakumbh Mela highlights: 30 dead, 60 injured in stampede, says DIG

LIVE BLOG

• 30 Jan 2025, 11:26 AM

  CM Yogi reviews arrangements, issues fresh directives

  
  
  Following the stampede at the Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya Wednesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a slew of guidelines on crowd management, traffic flow, prevention of build-up of devotees and coordination among departments.

  He ordered the deployment of Ashish Goyal, who served as Divisional Commissioner of Prayagraj during Kumbh 2019, and Bhanu Goswami, a former Vice Chairman of ADA, to further strengthen the arrangements, according to an official statement.
  
  Adityanath asked the chief secretary and the director general of police to conduct a thorough review of the Maha Kumbh Mela arrangements on Thursday. "Every aspect related to security and public convenience must be carefully examined to ensure seamless arrangements for Basant Panchami," he said.

  -PTI

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 07:21 PM

  UP CM postpones his Delhi visit

  To monitor the situation of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has postponed his visit to Delhi for the election campaign tomorrow.

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 06:48 PM

  Mahakumbh Mela stampede: 30 dead, 60 injured, says DIG Vaibhav Krishna

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 12:27 PM

  Extremely sad, my deepest condolences to devotees who lost loved ones, says PM Modi

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the stampede incident in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh and offered condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones.
  
  In a social media post on X, PM Modi said the local administration was engaged in helping the victims in every possible way and he was constantly in touch with the state government.
  
  "The accident that happened in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to Chief Minister Yogi ji and I am constantly in touch with the state government," said PM Modi in the post (in Hindi).

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 11:15 AM

  DIG Mahakumbh, Vaibhav Krishna says, "... 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... In the morning, there was pressure and a huge crowd. 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. The whole area is sanitised and we have conveyed this to the Akharas and they will soon start coming here for snan... We do not have official numbers of stampede victims since we have been involved in crowd control here. The injured are being treated."

   

  #WATCH | Prayagraj #MahaKumbh2025 | DIG Mahakumbh, Vaibhav Krishna says, "... 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... In… pic.twitter.com/tatlDkqlEx

  — ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 11:21 AM

  Heavy security deployed at the Triveni Sangam as police pave the way for Akharas and saints for their Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.
   

  #WATCH | Prayagraj, UP | #MahaKumbh2025 | Heavy security deployed at the Triveni Sangam as police pave the way for Akharas and saints for their Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. pic.twitter.com/wI0Tbeub06

  — ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 09:55 AM

  PM Modi speaks to Adityanath over Maha Kumbh stampede-like situation

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following a stampede-like incident early Wednesday at the Maha Kumbh, and called for immediate support measures.
  The prime minister is continuously monitoring the situation in Kumbh and is constant contact with the state government. He has spoken with the chief minister three times till now and is giving directions for normalisation of the situation and relief, official sources said.
  
  "PM Modi spoke to Yogi Ji about the situation at the Kumbh Mela, reviewed the developments, and called for immediate support measures," an official said.
  Multiple casualties were feared after a stampede-like situation broke out at Sangam in the early hours of Wednesday amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh, as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, officials said.
  
  In view of the incident, the akharas called off their traditional 'Amrit Snan' for Mauni Amavasya, even as devotees in large numbers continued to take a dip at Sangam and other ghats in the Mela area.

  -PTI

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 09:53 AM

  CM Yogi issues appeal: Do not pay attention to rumours, follow instructions
  
  Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday issued an appeal to the devotees attending the Maha Kumbh to follow the guidelines, cooperate with the administration, and not pay attention to rumours.
  
  In his statement, CM Yogi requested devotees to bathe at the designated Ganga ghats closest to their location rather than attempting to reach the 'Sangam Nose' area.
  
  "There are multiple ghats available for bathing. Please avoid overcrowding and follow the directions of the administration. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining order and safety,” he said.

  He urged the devotees not to pay attention to any rumours.
  
  In the appeal, posted on social media platform X, the CM wrote; " Take bath at the ghat of Mother Ganga near which you are, do not try to go towards Sangam Nose. All of you should follow the instructions of the administration and cooperate in making arrangements. People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam. Do not pay any attention to any rumours."

  -IANS

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 09:53 AM

  Home Minister Amit Shah assures all assistance to ensure safety of devotees

  Following the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and assured all possible support from the Centre.

  The stampede-like situation broke out at the Sangam amid the celebration of the Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh Mela.
  
  Amit Shah took stock of the situation during the conversation and assured all possible assistance from the Centre to manage the situation and ensure the safety of devotees.

  -IANS

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 09:51 AM

  Cong slams Centre, Yogi govt for 'half-baked' arrangements

  
  
  The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government over the "stampede-like" situation at the Sangam, demanding that the Maha Kumbh management be handed over to a better administrator than Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the movement of VVIPs there be stopped.
  
  Multiple casualties were feared after a "stampede-like" situation broke out at the Sangam on Wednesday amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh, as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, officials said.

  -PTI

   

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 09:50 AM

  Amrit Snan called off

  
  
  The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims. This year, a rare celestial alignment called 'Triveni Yog' is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day.

   

   

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 06:05 AM

  Visuals from Kali Marg, Sangam Ghat and Jhusi area show thousands of people gathered at the ghats, and waiting behind barricades to get their entry for the holy dip. 

  #WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Drone visuals from Sangam Ghat as a huge number of devotees reach for the Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya pic.twitter.com/lND1iYoWp4

  — ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 06:04 AM

  Mahakumbh Mela schedule today

  
  
  Taponidhi Panchayati, Niranjani Akhara, and Panchayati Akhara Anand will depart from their camp at 4:50 AM, arriving at the ghat by 5:50 AM. Their departure from the ghat will be at 6:30 AM, and they will return to their camp by 7:30 AM, the statement added.

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 06:01 AM

  Mauni Amavasya 2025: Schedule for akharas

  
  
  Each Akhara will perform the ritual for a set duration, with return times scheduled throughout the day, according to a statement by the Uttar Pradesh government.
  
  The Panchayati Akhara, Mahanirvani and Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara, both part of the Sanyasi Akharas, will also depart from their camp at 4:00 AM. They are expected to arrive at the ghat by 5:00 AM for the ceremonial bath, which will last for 40 minutes.
  
  Afterwards, the Akharas will leave the ghat at 5:40 AM and reach their camp by 6:40 AM.

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 06:01 AM

  Mauni Amavasya 2025: Schedule for akharas

  
  
  Each Akhara will perform the ritual for a set duration, with return times scheduled throughout the day, according to a statement by the Uttar Pradesh government.
  
  The Panchayati Akhara, Mahanirvani and Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara, both part of the Sanyasi Akharas, will also depart from their camp at 4:00 AM. They are expected to arrive at the ghat by 5:00 AM for the ceremonial bath, which will last for 40 minutes.
  
  Afterwards, the Akharas will leave the ghat at 5:40 AM and reach their camp by 6:40 AM.

  
• 29 Jan 2025, 06:00 AM

  Mahakumbh Mela live updates: Mauni Amavasya Schedule

  
  
  Mela Adhikari, Mahakumbh, Vijay Kiran Anand released the schedule for the Mauni Amavasya snan following a meeting with the Akharas.Sanyasi Akharas will begin departing their camps as early as 4:00 AM, with the first Akharas arriving at the ghat by 5:00 AM.