MahaKumbh Stampede: Over 10 Dead, Dozens Rushed To Hospital!

At least 10 people were feared dead after a stampede occurred at the MahaKumbh in Prayagraj early on Wednesday. The incident occurred as thousands of devotees broke through barriers while thronging the Triveni Sangam for a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya (new moon), the day of the second Shahi Snan. The incident occurred around 2 am amid a sea of tightly-packed crowds converging at the Sangam and all other ghats created along a 12-km long range of river banks for the Maha Kumbh. Several people suffered injuries while many families have been separated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it an "extremely sad" incident and expressed his "deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones". "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," the Prime Minister tweeted. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said some devotees jumped over the barricades and due to that, some of them got injured and that triggered the stampede. He said that the situation was under control and urged people not to spread rumours about Maha Kumbh. He said that the Prime Minister spoke to him four times following the incident and that he was constantly monitoring the situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda also spoke to Adityanath and assured all possible help from the central government. Ambulances were rushed to the spot and the injured were shifted to a makeshift hospital in the Mela area. Authorities appealed to the devotees to vacate the spot after taking a dip in the Sangam. Watch this report to know more.