A deadly stampede at the Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, has left at least 30 people dead and dozens more injured. The incident occurred as a surging crowd overwhelmed police cordons, causing chaos and trampling pilgrims. Questions are being raised about authorities' preparedness and response to the tragedy, with many accusing them of inadequate planning and downplaying the severity of the event.
Parvati Gupta, a 45-year-old Hindu pilgrim, traveled to India 's Kumbh Mela , the world's largest religious festival , hoping to cleanse her sins in the sacred waters. Instead, she left with injuries that will keep her bedridden for months. The Kumbh Mela , held every 12 years, draws tens of millions of faithful from across the country for ritual bathing in sacred rivers. Parvati, along with her relative Anita Gupta, endured a long and arduous journey to reach the festival in Prayagraj.
They arrived on a train overflowing with pilgrims, hours late and forced to sleep in the open due to an overwhelming lack of accommodations. As they prepared to depart the festival, a surging crowd overwhelmed police cordons, knocking Parvati to the ground and trampling her, breaking her leg. Anita described the chaotic scene, the festive atmosphere turning into a nightmare of pushing and shoving.Anita recounted how a group of men formed a protective barrier around them, saving them from potential death. However, their experience, echoed by others in the hospital ward, highlighted serious safety lapses and an inadequate official response to the tragedy. Anita claimed that blocked routes leading from the riverbank contributed to the overcrowding and chaos that led to the stampede. Gauri Sharma, another victim of the crush, placed the blame squarely on the organizers, citing the closure of several routes that trapped the throngs in one confined space. Despite the deadly stampede, authorities seemed intent on continuing the festivities. Millions of people participated in the sacred bathing rituals, and police briefings downplayed the severity of the accident, initially denying any deaths and attributing the incident to simple overcrowding. It wasn't until nearly 18 hours after the stampede, as the day's bathing concluded, that police finally confirmed 30 deaths and numerous injuries. Many present at the scene believed the official toll was significantly understated. Public outrage also mounted against the authorities for their perceived lack of preparedness. Rahul Shukla, a resident of Prayagraj, expressed his sorrow for the deceased but questioned why better preparations weren't made, considering the vast number of pilgrims expected. He lamented, 'Those who died at such a holy spot must have immediately attained salvation.', a sentiment shared by many grappling with the tragedy
Kumbh Mela India Stampede Religious Festival Tragedy Deaths Injuries Overcrowding Police Response
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