Maha Kumbh Stampede

The stampede that occurred at the Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj on Wednesday has shocked the nation. Crores of pilgrims are converging at the Sangam to take the holy dip. At least 30 people have been killed and nearly 60 injured as per the official figures. Pre-dawn stampede broke out when crores of devotees struggled for the space for taking the holy dip on the occasion of the Mauni Amavasya, considered as the most auspicious for taking the holy dip at the Sangam. The crowd got uncontrolled and this led to the no escape situation for the devotees in which the people got trapped. As per the eye witnesses they trapped people didn’t get any space to even get the foothold. Due to this stampede thousands of pilgrims got stranded in the adjoining district of Rewa in Madhya Pradesh as the authorities stopped the vehicle entry from Rewa. A massive traffic jam was noticed on the major Chakghat highway that connects Rewa with Prayagraj. This jam was witnessed 12km.This jam continued for nearly 10 hours in which all types of vehicles were stuck. But it goes to the credit of the police and civil administration that during this massive jam food, water and medicine facilities were made available to the people who were stranded and stuck. Arrangements for the safe stay and rest during this challenging period were made in schools and other available places besides the people were accommodated in tents and sheds along the highway. Maha Kumbh is going to continue for a prolonged period as it will end in the last week of February.Though the arrangements and availability of other amenities is well in place but this mammoth convergence of people needs a mechanism for pilgrim regulation to endure the safety and security of the pilgrims and tourists visiting Prayagraj to take the holy dip. Such religious congregations need an extra effort and ability to mitigate any incident that can cause a huge human loss. The Rising Kashmir had visited the Sangam and taken the stock of the arrangements at Prayagraj for the pilgrim management at the destination area. The influx and outflux of the visitors is being monitored from the AI supported control rooms that are operating 24 X 7,keeping a vigil on the headcount. It is for the first time that AI system is being used to manage such a huge congregation. While speaking to the police administration, the Rising Kashmir was told that this model is being studies and analysed to make it viable for the Indian system. Now there is a need to convert the data base and images obtained from the AI to arrive at the quick decision making to avoid the Wednesday like human tragedy.There is no doubt that the Uttar Pradesh Government has left no stone unturned to organise a safe and secure Maha Kumbh but there is an urgent need to regulate the influx of the people on hourly basis every day. So that stampede like situation is nipped in the bud. Maha Kumbh has emerged as the model for the entire world to manage a religious congregation of such a huge scale that has perhaps in parallel in the contemporary times. People who are converging at Prayagraj must also internalise that personal safety is of paramount importance and as such they must avoid the peak hours and seek the help of the administration and help desks to ensure their safety. The Rising Kashmir has been following the Maha Kumbh 2025 from the day of its initiation and has reported room the ground zero to give the first hand news of the once in a lifetime event. The Rising Kashmir will continue to give updates and analysis on the Maha Kumbh. We urge the Uttar Pradesh Government impose regulatory measures so that this festival of divinity is made a memorable event for all times to come. Let us hope there are no more human casualties and people take a holy dip safely and be blessed.