Maha Kumbh News Updates: UP CM Yogi Adityanath orders judicial probe into stampede, confirms loss of 30 lives

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed his deep concern and sadness over the Maha Kumbh stampede, calling it an unfortunate incident. "If such an incident happens to any person, it is unfortunate. It is a matter of concern and also a matter of sadness.... Efforts should be made to ensure that such an incident does not happen in future", said Soren

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav expressed his condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the Maha Kumbh stampede, praying for their souls to rest in peace. He also emphasized the need for rectifying any shortcomings in the arrangements at the event to prevent such incidents in the future.

JD(U) leader Manish Yadav expressed his condolences to the families affected by the Maha Kumbh stampede, calling the incident deeply painful. He said, the incident is very painful. I would like to express my condolences to the families who suffered. PM Modi has been in touch with CM Yogi Adityanath and CM has been monitoring the whole situation closely.

On the Maha Kumbh stampede, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chaddha expressed his prayers for the peaceful rest of the souls of the deceased and wished for the swift recovery of the injured. He also called on the government to reassess their preparations to improve them and prevent such incidents in the future.

Baba Ramdev urged visitors at Maha Kumbh Mela to practice self-discipline after a stampede broke out ahead of the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya.

“The first characteristic of Dharma is patience... If you don't get a chance to go to the Sangam, take a dip wherever you get a place... I pray for the salvation of those who have passed away,” he said.

On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the government has decided that a judicial inquiry of the stamped incident at the Maha Kumbh Mela would be done. "For this, we have formed a 3-member judicial commission headed by Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retired IAS DK Singh. We have been monitoring the entire incident from the chief minister's control room, the chief secretary's control room, and the DGP's control room throughout the day. Meetings went on throughout the day and there was continuous communication with the administration regarding the incidents," he said.

The chief minister further informed that since the morning the state government has been receiving necessary guidelines from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda, among others.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his deepest condolences to all those families who lost their loved ones in the stampede that took place in the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. He also ordered a judicial probe into the tragedy which resulted in the loss of 30 lives.

"The incident is heart-wrenching. We express our deepest condolences to all those families who lost their loved ones. We have been in constant touch with the administration since last night," he said.

After a tragic stamped at the Maha Kumbh Mela which led to 30 deaths, Uttar Pradesh chief minister continues to keep a track of the current situation in Prayagraj. To monitor the situation of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has postponed his visit to Delhi for election campaign tomorrow, ANI reported.

DIG Maha Kumbh Vaibhav Krishna assured that the present situation in Prayagraj, where devotees have gathered in large numbers, is normal. "Keeping in mind the convenience of the devotees, CM Yogi Adityanath requested all the Mahamandaleshwar, Saints, Akharas to take a holy dip with some delay... Amrit Snan of the Akharas have been concluded safely," he stated.

DIG Kumbh Mela Vaibhav Krishna informed that out of the 30 deceased -- 25 have been identified while remaining five are yet to be identified. "Some of these are from other states too... four from Karnataka, one from Assam, one from Gujarat... some injured devotees have been taken away by their relatives. 36 injured are undergoing treatment at the local medical college. For the convenience of devotees, Mela administration has issued helpline number 1920," he said.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday evening, DIG Kumbh Mela Vaibhav Krishna confirmed 30 casualties in the stampede incident ahead of the Mauni Amavasya holy dip. "On the Mauni Amavasya Snan, between 1 and 2 am ahead of the Brahm Muhurta, huge crowd gathered on the Akhara route, because of which the barricades on the other side broke. The crowd on this side crossed to the other side and started running over devotees waiting for Brahm Muhurta... The administration quickly enforced the rescue operation and created a green corridor for ambulances, and took 90 injured to the hospitals. Unfortunately, 30 of those devotees have died."

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, speaking about the Maha Kumbh stampede, said Mauni Amavasya is a very auspicious day but the entire 45 days is considered auspicious.

"People have the feeling that they have to go and take the dip in the same spot. Though the government has made elaborate arrangements, there was this unfortunate mishap last night. My concern is that people should not rush. Every day of these 45 days is auspicious and they can take a dip in any part of the river. We have to be cautious when such huge crowds come," he told ANI.

Key upcoming bathing dates for Maha Kumbh include Basant Panchami on February 3, Maghi Purnima on February 12, and Maha Shivaratri on February 26.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which has claimed at least 15 innocent lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved pilgrim families. My learning from our Gangasagar Mela is that planning and care must be maximal in matters relating to pilgrims' lives in vast assemblies of people. Prayers for the departed souls," said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident that took place at Maha Kumbh. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. May God give them the strength to bear this sorrow. The administration is treating the injured in hospitals. I am in constant touch with the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the local administration," said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on X.

The Gujarat government sought additional trains for Gujarati devotees traveling to Maha Kumbh Mela, with GSRTC buses to ferry passengers from nearby stations.

Here's what Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad chief Mahant Ravindra Puri said on the sacred 'Amrit Snan' on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. "All saints, seers and nagas took holy dip on the occasion. I congratulate Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) and the administration for making such arrangements."

On Maha Kumbh stampede, he said: "It's a conspiracy by the opposition. This must be investigated."

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj said all the three Shankaracharyas of the country are going to take a holy dip here today. "The incident that took place late last night is unfortunate and everyone is sad but we should be cautious that no such incident happens in the future. I appeal to the devotees to remain patient and take a holy dip anywhere in the Kumbh Kshetra. There is no specific place where devotees should gather to take the dip..." he said.

Amrit snan, the traditional bathing ritual of akharas that was deferred due to the stampede at Maha Kumbh, resumed on Wednesday. Led by Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, the procession of akharas made its way on foot towards the Sangam for the snan.The procession, notably less grand than usual, began around 2.30 pm..

The Amrit snan was originally scheduled in the early hours of the day but was postponed following the stampede.

"We are going for Amrit Snan and thousands of saints and Nagas are coming with me... We will vacate the ghats very quickly so that all the devotees who have come here are able to take a holy dip..." said president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Mahant Ravindra Puri.

The Ghazipur district administration has made strict security arrangements after the stampede incident in Prayagraj on Mauni Amavasya. On the instructions of Superintendent of Police, Dr Irj Raja, all the vehicles going towards Varanasi are being stopped. The movement of vehicles going towards Varanasi in the connecting point Mardah and Bhanwarkol area of ​​Purvanchal Expressway has been banned, according to reports.

• Around 2 am, the blaring sirens of ambulances and police vehicles rushing to the Sangam pierced through the continuous chants of mantras and shlokas echoing from loudspeakers across the Kumbh Mela area.
• Those injured were taken to the central hospital established in the Mela area. Relatives of many injured also reached there, as did some senior administrative and police officials.
• Security personnel and rescue workers were seen carrying many of the injured on stretchers. People's belongings, including blankets and bags, lay strewn around. (PTI)

• Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday offered his condolences to pilgrims who lost their family members in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
• He also wished for speedy recovery to those injured in the tragic incident.
• Multiple casualties took place as a stampede broke out at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. (PTI)

• A massive crowd gathered during the Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh.
• By 12 PM, 4.24 crore devotees took a dip.
• So far, around 22 crore devotees have participated in the Maha Kumbh 2025.

The stampede incident at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely saddening. I express my condolences to the families of the deceased devotees and pray to God for the speedy recovery of all the injured devotees. - President Murmu

• The news of several deaths and injuries due to the stampede at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely saddening.
• I express my deepest condolences to the grieving families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.
• The mismanagement, poor planning, and the administration’s focus on VIP movement instead of the common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident.
• There is still a significant amount of time left for the Maha Kumbh, and many more sacred dips (Mahasnan) are yet to occur. To prevent such tragic incidents in the future, the government must improve the arrangements.
• The VIP culture should be curbed, and the government must make better provisions to meet the needs of the common devotees.
• I request Congress workers and leaders to assist the affected families. - Rahul Gandhi

SSP Kumbh Mela Rajesh Dwivedi says, "There was no stampede. It was just overcrowding due to which some devotees got injured. The situation is completely under control. No kind of rumours must be paid heed to... Amrit Snan will soon begin... All preparations for Amrit Snan have been made... Many ghats have been developed and people are easily taking a dip in those ghats... I don't have numbers on casualties or injuries..." (ANI)

Due to the growing crowd of devotees at the Maha Kumbh, all buses and four-wheel vehicles have been stopped at the Prayagraj border for 24 hours. The District Magistrate of Jaunpur, Dinesh Chandra, has appealed to the devotees heading to the Maha Kumbh for a holy dip to avoid going to the mela area for the next 24 hours. The District Magistrate stated that this step has been taken in view of the heavy crowd in the mela area in Prayagraj and the seriousness of the situation. Devotees who wish to take a dip in the Kumbh have been advised to avoid the mela area for the next 24 hours. He emphasized that this step has been taken for the safety of the people.

I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way, says PM Modi. (Read More)

"The incident at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is deeply tragic. My heartfelt condolences to those devotees who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate event. I also wish for the swift recovery of all the injured. The local administration is actively engaged in providing all possible assistance to the victims. In this regard, I have spoken with Chief Minister Yogi Ji and am in constant contact with the state government," says PM Modi in a post on X

Teams of CRPG and Rapid Action Force are reaching the Akhada Marg as several groups of seers begin their procession. This is the same place where the stampede-like situation took place in the early morning hours today.

• To restore the faith of the saint community and devotees in the arrangements at the Mahakumbh, it is essential that the administration and management of the event be immediately handed over to the Indian Army instead of the Uttar Pradesh government and administration.
• Now that the truth behind the claims of providing "world-class arrangements" has been exposed for all to see, those who made such claims and engaged in false propaganda should take moral responsibility for the lives lost in this tragedy and resign from their positions. - Akhilesh Yadav

'Peshwayi' or grand procession of seers has begun towards Sangam ghat, latest visuals posted by news agency ANI show. This comes shortly after Vaibhav Krishna, DIG Mahakumbh, ordered cops to move people away from the Triveni Ghat. CM Yogi has said that there is a pressure of crowd, however, situation is under control.

To enhance security amid the massive crowds gathering in the Mahakumbh area on Mauni Amavasya, a Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, accompanied by a sniffer dog, is conducting regular inspections of the area.

The Railways has planned to run more than 360 trains from the various stations in the Prayagraj region today

• Over 400 people died in 1954 at the Kumbh Mela after being trampled or drowned, marking one of the largest tolls in a crowd-related disaster globally.
• In 2013, 36 people were crushed to death at the festival, the last time it was held in Prayagraj.

"We have not halted any train operations. Due to the high number of passengers in the Prayagraj area, we are attempting to reduce the crowd by sending empty trains. Our current priority is to clear the station area."

"The stampede incident at the Maha Kumbh is extremely tragic. I pray for the peace of the souls of the devotees who lost their lives in this accident. May God give their families the strength to endure this immense sorrow. I humbly appeal to all devotees to remain patient and exercise caution. Please follow the instructions of the authorities and be mindful of each other's safety," says Arvind Kejriwal

• "We had been waiting since last night," said Rajesh Tiwari, a devotee from Varanasi.
• "Some of us slept there, while others changed clothes after taking an early dip. Suddenly, around 2 am, just before the Mahurat began, people started pushing forward, not realizing there were others still sleeping in the area. That's when the chaos began." (Read More)

The Prime Minister is continuously monitoring the situation at the Kumbh and is in constant contact with the state government. He has spoken to the Chief Minister three times so far and is providing directions for the normalization of the situation and relief efforts.

As the situation is normal, Akhada Parishad to take dip in Anrit Snan today, says Mahendra Giri

Former CM and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has appealed the Yogi administration to make proper arrangements in view of the stampede-like situation at Sangam. In a lengthy post, Yadav said, "We appeal to our government to: Provide immediate medical assistance to the seriously injured by transporting them via air ambulance to the nearest best hospitals. Arrange for the identification of the deceased bodies, hand them over to their families, and ensure they are sent to their place of residence. Make swift efforts to reunite those who have been separated. Increase surveillance by making effective use of helicopters."

"Extremely tragic! Reports of devotees being casualties due to the stampede at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, heart-wrenching. May God grant peace to the souls of the deceased and wish for the swift recovery of the injured. Deep condolences to the grieving families. The government should expedite relief and rescue operations," says Samajwadi Party in a post on X.

Yog guru Baba Ramdev said, "We took a holy dip today while keeping the injured in our prayers and wishing for their speedy recovery. We performed a symbolic 'snan' today and prayed for the well-being of all."

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad President Mahant Ravindra Puri stated, "We are observing that the crowd is decreasing now, and we are in discussions with the Mela administration. We would like to take the 'snan' once the crowd subsides. We had postponed the 'snan' this morning. We are also working towards normalizing the situation, after which we will consult with the Mela administration and then proceed with the 'snan'."

Maha Kumbh News Live: Please avoid Sangam nose, take holy dip at nearest ghat, CM Yogi's appeal to devotees after stampede-like situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the second time within an hour. The Prime Minister is continuously monitoring the situation at the Kumbh Mela to ensure the safety and well-being of the devotees and to coordinate any necessary response.

According to BBC, an announcement has just been made at the Maha Kumbh Mela, advising devotees to avoid going to Sangam for the holy dip. Authorities are instead urging people to take a dip at several other bathing areas along the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah 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 also assured the Chief Minister of full support from the Centre.

• After the stampede at the Maha Kumbh, people traveling from several districts of Purvanchal to Prayagraj via Mungra Badshahpur have been stopped at Sathariya since 3 AM on Wednesday. Their vehicles are being parked at designated halt points, including Mungra Badshahpur.
• Additionally, the district and administration officials have stated, "Please stay here. Arrangements for your accommodation and food are being made. If you wish to return, you may do so as well."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with CM Yogi Adityanath after the Kumbh stampede, as per news agency ANI. Pm Modi has called for swift action. Casualties are feared after a 'stampede-like' situation occurred at Sangam during early morning hours today.

Along with other security personnel, teams from NDRF and NSG have reached the confluence, or Triveni, and are urging people to leave the area after taking their holy dip. The latest visuals shared by news agency ANI show injured devotees being transported to the Maha Kumbh hospital in Sector 2. (Read More)

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has spoken to the akhadas. As a result, the Akhadas have decided to call off the Amrit Snan. Shri Mahamandir and Atal Akhara were scheduled to perform the Amrit Snan at 5 AM. After that, Niranjani and Anand Akhara would take their dip. Then, the Juna, Agni, Avahan, and Kinnar Akhara had their designated time for the bath. Following these, the Vaishnav sect's Digambar Ani, Nirmohi Ani, and Nirvani Ani were to take their dip. Lastly, Nirmal Akhara was to perform the Amrit Snan.

The last major Kumbh-related crush occurred at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) railway station in 2013, when 30 pilgrims lost their lives during the peak of the festival.

Many people are feared to have been injured following a crush at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj during the early morning hours today. While the exact number of injuries or fatalities has not been confirmed, one official stated, "Some people have been injured," but added, "No one is in serious condition."