PRAYAGRAJ: A stampede broke out at the Sangam Nose area of Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj at around 1am on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday as lakhs of devotees rushed to take the holy dip on the auspicious occasion of

Mauni Amavasya

.
Several people were injured in the chaos. Following the incident, authorities put the second Amrit Snan on hold as a precautionary measure.

Heavy police deployment has been made across key entry and exit points to regulate the crowd.

Akharas suspends Amrit Snan

The

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad

(ABAP) has decided to suspend the Amrit Snan after discussions with the administration.
ABAP president Shri Mahant Ravindra Puri said TOI, “The administration has requested us not to proceed for Amrit Snan, and we are staying back despite being ready for the procession. In the larger public interest, all Akharas have agreed not to go for the Snan today.”
Read more: Maha Kumbh stories
Sources said the Mela administration is in talks with ABAP regarding the Snan. Earlier, Puri had said, “We are deeply saddened by what happened at Sangam Nose. This is an act of sacrifice from our side as we had been eagerly waiting for this rare occasion after 144 years. But we will now bathe on the third Amrit Snan on February 3.”
Religious leaders have urged devotees to avoid overcrowding at Sangam Nose and instead take a holy dip at nearby ghats.
Jagatguru Rambhadracharya appealed to devotees, saying, “The river Ganga is the same everywhere. Devotees should take the dip at the nearest ghat instead of insisting on reaching the Sangam.”
Acharya Mahamandelshwar of Anand Akhara, Balakanand Puri, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the entire Kumbh Mela area holds the same spiritual significance as Sangam.

Famous storyteller Devkinandan Thakur also urged devotees to avoid congestion and take a dip at the nearest ghat.

Security measures strengthened

A strong police presence, including paramilitary forces, has been deployed at entry and exit points near the Sangam to regulate the crowd.

Maha Kumbh Mela District Magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand has been patrolling the area to ensure the safety of devotees.

PM Modi, Amit Shah speak to UP CM Yogi, assure full support after Sangam stampede

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath regarding the situation and called for immediate support measures.

Union home minister Amit Shah also spoke to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath following a stampede-like situation at the Sangam during the Mauni Amavasya celebrations at the Maha Kumbh Mela. He assured the CM of full support from the Centre in handling the situation.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath urged devotees not to pay heed to rumors and follow the instructions given by the administration.
He also appealed to devotees to take a dip at the nearest ghat instead of heading toward the Sangam Nose to avoid overcrowding.
Meanwhile, a large number of people gathered outside the hospital set up in Maha Kumbh Sector 2, where those injured in the stampede were taken for medical assistance.

The Maha Kumbh’s bathing schedule remains largely intact. The next major bathing event will take place on Basant Panchami (February 3), which is also the third Amrit Snan.

According to the Uttar Pradesh government’s schedule, various Akharas had planned to begin their procession as early as 4am, with each group allocated a set duration for the ceremonial bath.

Cops deployed, Super 20 team manages crowd as seers take holy dip

Authorities have deployed police personnel at seven static points along the corridor route to regulate the flow of devotees during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
The “Super 20” team, assigned to manage the crowd at ghats, is appealing to pilgrims to vacate the area after taking their holy dip.
Senior seers of Juna, Agni, and Aawahan Akharas have decided to return to their camps and take their holy dip later in the day at the nearest ghat.
The administration has set up temporary ghats along a 12-km stretch of the Ganga to accommodate the large number of devotees.
Akhara leaders postpone procession, opt for symbolic snan
Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Avdeshanand Giri of Juna Akhara, along with Baba Ramdev and BJP MP from Mathura Hema Malini, took a holy dip at the nearest available ghat.

The Acharya arrived without a grand procession, performed puja at the riverbank, and offered a saree to Maa Ganga.
A government spokesperson clarified that the Akharas have not canceled their Snan but have postponed their holy dip for later in the day.
Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara stated that the akhara will not hold a procession and will instead take a symbolic Snan.
President of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, Ravindra Puri, stated, “As soon as the crowd of devotees reduces and there is space for us, the Akharas will proceed with the Amrit Snan.”

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri said, “We are seeing that the crowd is decreasing now, and we are holding discussions with the Mela administration. We would like to take the ‘snan’ if the crowd decreases. We had postponed the ‘snan’ in the morning. We are also trying to ensure that the situation normalises, after which we will coordinate with the Mela administration and proceed with the ‘snan’.”
Spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur has appealed for calm following reports of a stampede-like situation at Sangam during the Mauni Amavasya celebrations.

“I just returned after taking a dip in the Ganga, and I received a message about a stampede at Sangam. I request everyone to remain calm, as Sangam is extremely crowded right now. I chose to bathe in the Ganga instead of Sangam for this reason, and I still received the same spiritual benefits. Please do not believe in rumors, as authorities are handling the situation. I urge people not to take elderly and children to Sangam at this moment,” he said.

Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati express concern, demand urgent action after Sangam stampede

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his sorrow over the stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which led to casualties, calling the incident deeply distressing.
In a post on social media platform ‘X’, he conveyed his condolences and appealed to the government for immediate action. Yadav urged the authorities to ensure that seriously injured individuals are quickly transported to the nearest hospitals using air ambulances and provided with urgent medical treatment. He also called for the identification of the deceased and their return to their families.
Additionally, he stressed the need for efforts to reunite separated individuals and increase surveillance through helicopters to ensure better monitoring. Yadav emphasized that the ‘Royal Bath’ tradition, which has been maintained since the Satya Yuga, should continue amid proper management to ensure the safety of the devotees.

He also urged devotees to exercise patience and restraint during this difficult time and complete their pilgrimage peacefully. Furthermore, Yadav advised the government to learn from the incident and make better arrangements for accommodation, food, water, and other facilities for the pilgrims. He wished a speedy recovery to all those injured in the accident.

Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati also reacted to the incident, expressing her concern on X. She wrote, “The stampede at the Maha Kumbh at the confluence of Prayagraj, in which devotees lost their lives and many others were injured, is deeply sorrowful and concerning. In such difficult times, may nature grant the strength to the affected individuals to endure this pain. This is the party’s sincere wish.”