Over 12 people were killed and around 10 injured in an incident during the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday, as tens of millions gathered for a sacred dip during the festival’s most auspicious day. Drone footage showed millions of devotees side by side arriving in the pre-dawn darkness in the temporary town of Prayagraj, to bathe at the confluence of the three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical, unseen Saraswati.
Indian opposition leaders have criticized the government, claiming mismanagement led to a stampede at the Kumbh Mela, where 12 people are suspected to have died. “Mismanagement, mishandling, and the special focus of the administration on VIP movement rather than ordinary devotees are responsible for this tragic incident,” said Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in parliament, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling the incident “extremely sad.”
Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Congress party led by Gandhi, also criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for “half-baked arrangements” and prioritizing VIP movement over the ordinary pilgrims. Uttar Pradesh is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Other opposition party leaders have expressed their condolences. As of now, officials have not confirmed the exact number of casualties or injuries from the crush.
