Maha Kumbh 2025: Akharas cancel ‘Shahi Snan’ as stampede hits Triveni Sangam, admin urges retreat

A tragic stampede happened at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025, during the holy Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual. The incident took place around 2:30 AM at Triveni Sangam, where lakhs of devotees had gathered for the sacred Amrit Snan. Officials confirmed that at least 15 bodies were taken to the hospital. The administration is now urging people to step back to prevent further chaos.

Devotees struggle in the Crowd

Eyewitnesses described the horrifying moment when the crowd became uncontrollable. A woman from Karnataka, who came with a group of 60 people, recalled how sudden pushing led to many getting trapped. “There was no way to escape; people were pushing from all sides,” another woman said.

According to officials, the stampede started when a barrier collapsed due to extreme crowd pressure. Some people were injured and taken to hospitals. The administration is now trying to control the situation and guide devotees safely.

Due to the tragedy, several akharas (religious groups) have decided to postpone or cancel their sacred bathing rituals. The Juna Akhara’s spokesperson, Narain Giri, confirmed that akharas delayed their snan due to the massive crowd pressure. Mahant Ravindra Puri, the president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, also announced that saints and seers would not participate in the Mauni Amavasya snan. "We were ready for the snan, but after hearing about the incident, we decided to call it off," he said.

A seer from Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara also stated that the current situation was not suitable for snan due to the overwhelming crowd. Officials are asking devotees to consider other ghats as equal to the Sangam to avoid further congestion.

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Massive footfall at Maha Kumbh

The Maha Kumbh Mela has seen an enormous number of devotees. Until January 28, about 15 crore people had visited the festival. On January 28 alone, over 4.8 crore devotees took a holy dip, which was more than the 3.5 crore who bathed on Makar Sankranti. For Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan, officials expected a crowd of nearly 10 crore people.

The administration is now focusing on better crowd management strategies to prevent such tragedies in the future. Experts suggest improving safety measures and building stronger infrastructure to handle massive gatherings like the Maha Kumbh. Authorities are also urging people to cooperate and follow guidelines for their safety.

The Maha Kumbh, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, continues to attract millions of devotees. However, incidents like this stampede highlight the urgent need for better planning and safety measures to protect pilgrims.