Around 30 women sustained injuries when a stampede-like situation emerged at the Maha Kumbh on the morning of Mauni Amavasya. This unfortunate incident prompted Akharas to cancel the holy Amrit Snan ritual.
The chaos unfolded as crores of devotees flocked to Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj for the sacred ‘Amrit Snan.’ As the crowd surged about a kilometre away from the ‘Sangam,’ barricades collapsed, causing several women to faint. The situation escalated as unconscious women fell to the ground, leading to panic and injuries. They were promptly taken to hospitals within the Maha Kumbh fair grounds, while more serious cases were referred to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College for advanced treatment.
Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri announced that seers had called off the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya. “Due to this morning’s incident, we have decided to cancel the Amrit Snan,” he told PTI.
Devotees Advised to Bathe Elsewhere
Akhara Parishad General Secretary and Juna Akhara Patron Mahant Hari Giri also urged devotees to take a bath in the Ganga river wherever possible and return home safely.
Relief Measures and Crowd Control
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and directed him to arrange immediate relief measures. Authorities promptly closed pontoon bridges to prevent similar situations.
Ahead of the second Amrit Snan, nearly five crore people had already arrived in Prayagraj. The crowd was expected to swell to 10 crore on the day itself. Authorities have implemented stringent security measures, including AI-powered surveillance, drone monitoring, and increased police deployment. The Prayagraj administration also declared the Mela area a no-vehicle zone and appealed to local residents to use two-wheelers sparingly.
Railway and Medical Arrangements
The railways is operating 360 trains, including 190 special services, to manage the massive influx of pilgrims. “A train is running every four minutes to ensure seamless connectivity for devotees,” said Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board.
The Uttar Pradesh government has deployed more than 1,000 medical professionals across the Maha Kumbh area, with provisions for surgeries in every sector. Additionally, 300 specialist doctors are stationed at a super-specialty hospital to handle emergencies.
Significance of Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan
The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh. This year, the occasion holds added spiritual importance due to a rare celestial alignment known as ‘Triveni Yog,’ which occurs once every 144 years.
Traditionally, Akharas belonging to the Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen sects take the holy dip in a set sequence. The ash-smeared Nagas also immerse themselves in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya. The government had even planned to shower 25 quintals of rose petals using helicopters.
Record Pilgrimage Numbers
The Maha Kumbh 2025 has already seen over 15 crore pilgrims taking a holy dip over the past 17 days. On Tuesday alone, over 4.80 crore devotees participated in the snan, surpassing the turnout on Makar Sankranti (3.5 crore), according to the Uttar Pradesh government.
The Maha Kumbh started on January 13 and will continue till February 26.
