CM gets emotional on the death of 30 devotees in Mahakumbh accident

Mahakumbh Nagar : In response to the tragic incident at the Mahakumbh incident that took place in the wee hours of Wednesday, claiming the lives of 30 pilgrims during the Mauni Amavasya Snan, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a judicial inquiry. A three-member judicial inquiry commission has been formed, led by former judge Harsh Kumar, with former DG VK Gupta and retired IAS officer DK Singh as members.

The commission is tasked with submitting its report within a specified timeline. In addition, a thorough police investigation will be conducted to determine the causes of the accident. On Thursday, the Chief Secretary and DGP will visit Prayagraj to review the incident firsthand.

The Chief Minister has also announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹25 lakhs for the families of each of the deceased. Addressing the media with moist eyes and a choked throat on Wednesday evening, the Chief Minister said, “This tragic accident happened due to heavy crowd and breaking of barricades. The administration had held several rounds of review meetings, yet how did this accident happen? There will be a thorough investigation.”

“The government has also announced a compensation of ₹ 25 lakhs each to the families of the deceased. Apart from this, the Chief Secretary and DGP have been instructed to visit the spot and investigate on Thursday. They will take stock of the situation and submit the report”, he added.

A visibly emotional Chief Minister further expressed, “Despite extensive preparations, this accident is deeply sorrowful. We must ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.” He explained that since 7 pm on Tuesday evening, a large number of devotees had arrived in Prayagraj for the Mauni Amavasya Snan, with many awaiting the Brahma Muhurta. The incident occurred on the banks of the Sangam at Akhara Marg, when a massive crowd broke through the barricades and began jumping from them. This led to the tragic loss of around 30 lives. Additionally, 36 people were injured and are receiving treatment in Prayagraj, while others have been taken by their families for care.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that Prayagraj witnessed a pressure of over 8 crore people on Wednesday. Despite efforts to manage the crowd, devotees from neighboring districts—Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, and Kaushambi—were held in designated areas until the completion of the Akharas’ Amrit Snan. Once the ritual was completed, they were allowed to proceed. The pressure on railway stations was immense, and to manage this, the railways operated over 300 trains, including both routine and special fair trains. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation deployed more than 8,000 buses to cater to the influx of people. While these events are heartbreaking, they also serve as an important lesson. However, a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident is crucial to prevent such incidents in the future.