On Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, the world’s largest religious gathering celebrated its most important day. The celebration would turn to horror early in the morning when a stampede occurred, leading to a reported 30 deaths and 90 injuries.
Kumbh Mela is a Hindu festival revolving around a dip in a sacred river. It takes place every 12 years, drawing millions of people every time. This year’s celebration was slated to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, a Maha (Great) Kumbh Mela which occurs once in 144 years. Wednesday was the most important day of the festival, having been estimated to draw 100 million people on its own and the festival as a whole, 400 million. The question arises: how could this happen at such an important event on such an important day?
The crowd crush was reported to have started at 1:30 am when a crowd broke down a barrier to surge toward the river. A commotion broke out, and people would be trampled in the chaos. Attendees would report losing track of their family, belongings, and money during the incident. Some would still be searching hours later.
The stampede has not been attributed solely to accident or tragic chance; though.; eyes have fallen on the government for several attributed failures: the lack of proper crowd control, police mismanagement, prioritization of VIP visitors, and the direct closing-off of paths.
Opposing party leader Rahul Gandhi has said on Twitter, “Mismanagement, mismanagement and administration’s special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident.”
A lack of effective communication has also been pointed out. A failure to reveal the number of victims in the stampede until a day later left pilgrims confused and worried. Additionally, the death count stated by the government has been contested, with reports by news agencies and sources on-ground claiming higher numbers. Reuters claimed 40 bodies had been recovered, and CNN reported 35. Some groups would go on to claim as high as 60.
Interviews of attendees have revealed a variety of emotions. People would express fear, worry, grief, and anger. A resident would say in an interview for France24: “Heads should obviously roll for this tragedy.”
Days after the stampede, people would still be searching the wreckage. People would lose family and loved ones in the stampede—families are left grieving in the aftermath of what was supposed to be a celebration. Deepak Hatterwat, who lost his daughter and wife in the crush told the Indian Express newspaper that, “We were planning her [the daughter’s] wedding. What should I do and for whom should I live now?”
In the aftermath of the event, the government has taken action. Stricter crowd management has been enforced, vehicles restricted, VIP passes canceled, and paths unblocked. Security has been deployed all over the city, with the Hindustan Times reporting that “The Centre also rushed additional paramilitary personnel, from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Central Reserve Police Force (RPF), the Special Security Force (SSF), and the Border Security Force.” Condolences have been given, and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath also stated victims’ families will receive $29,000.
Adityanath has also announced an investigation into the cause of the accident in the interest of stopping future crushes.
This year’s Kumbh Mela was initially revealed to have taken special precautions. The government had reported that 40,000 security officials and 2,700 security cameras would be placed at the scene. Aerial and underwater drones were said to provide extra security from everywhere.
This year’s crowd crush is not a unique incident. Several crowd crushes have occurred at past Kumbh Melas, with this year’s stampede being the sixth in the past 70 years. A gathering in 2013 reported 36 people dead, and the 1954 Kumbh Mela is believed to have resulted in up to 400 deaths.
While the government investigates and prepares for future festivals, families grieve over this one. Despite precautions, this year’s celebration has resulted in tragedy; the world will watch for future Kumbh Melas in the hope of better times.
