Mahakumbh 2025: Stampede breaks out in Prayagraj ahead of holy dip on Mauni Amavasya; 30 people dead

Mahakumbh 2025: At least 30 people have died while 60 others were injured in a stampede that broke out in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj during the ongoing Mahakumbh gathering on Wednesday morning.

Thousands of devotees had turned up at the Mahakumbh for a holy dip in the Ganga river on the ‘Mauni Amavasya’ when the stampede broke out between 1 and 2 AM on January 29.

Ambulances were rushed to the ghat, and injured persons were taken to the central hospital inside the Mela ground for treatment. The injured were rushed to the hospital at he Mela venue. Some of those rushed to the hospital were brought dead. While UP administration didn't confirm any deaths during the day, the police shared the number of deaths in the evening.

30 dead, says DIG

Uttar Pradesh police confirmed the death of at least 30 people following a stampede at the Mahakumbh 2025. Another 60 others are believed to have been injured during the incident that took place in the early hours of Wednesday.

“30 people have lost their lives in the Maha Kumbh stampede that took place between 1-2 AM. 25 people have been identified, and the identification of the remaining 5 is being made,” said Vaibhav Krishna, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mahakumbh

What led to the stampede?

The administration found it difficult to manage the crowd that thronged the ghats and the Triveni Sangam on ‘Mauni Amavasya’, the day of the 'second Shahi snan' at the Mahakumbh Mela.

Expecting about 10 crore devotees to the Mahakumbh 2025 on Mauni Amavasya, the Uttar Pradesh government had already put in elaborate security and crowd-management systems in place at the mela site. An advisory was issued asking all devotees to treat the ghats as equal to the Sangam and avoid any rush due to misinformation/rumours. 

Uttar Pradesh police had also issued a traffic advisory for Parayagraj to ensure proper crowd management.

What did eyewitnesses say?

Vivek Mishra, a social media content creator based in Prayagraj, told Hindustan Times that the stampede took place at around 2.30 am when a large number of devotees reached the Sangam banks. 

The problem, Mishra said, was mainly because the crowd had no idea where to go after bathing. “These people were carrying heavy luggage on their heads. There were a large number of iron dustbins that could not be seen by pilgrims. A few people fell as they lost balance,” he said.  

“Their luggage could be seen all over the area. I also fell as my feet got stuck in one of the dustbins. Lost my shoes. I was left barefoot. I sustained an injury on my feet. I somehow stood up and saved my parents and another woman who were all lying on the ground. It was then youngsters in the crowd started pushing others,” Mishra said.

What is Mauni Amavasya?

Mauni Amavasya is also known as Maghi Amavasya. It takes place at the time of the new moon and carries immense significance for Hindu devotees. Taking a dip at Sangam on Mauni Amavasya during the ongoing Mahakumbh 2025 is considered highly auspicious.

The mega event at the Mahakumbh Mela at the Triveni Sangam, billed as the largest human gathering on Earth, began on January 13 in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.  The Mahakumbh concludes on February 26.

In the past 17 days, over 15 crore pilgrims have taken a holy dip during the Mahakumbh.  Over 4.8 crore devotees took the snan on January 28, a day before the tragedy stuck the fair.

PM speaks to Yogi twice

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath twice within an hour to review the situation at the Maha Kumbh. The Prime Minister called for immediate support measures. He is continuously monitoring the situation at Kumbh, sources said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with the UP CM after the incident. 

Shah was in Prayagraj and took a holy dip in the Ganga river on January 27. Prime Minister Modi is also expected at the Mahakumbh Mela on February 5.

Mauni Amavasya's Amrit Snan called off

The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad President Mahant Ravindra Puri said that the seers have called off their Mauni Amavasya's ‘Amrit Snan’ due to the stampede at the Mahakumbh 2025,  which left at least 15 dead and many others injured.

"You would've seen what happened in the morning, and that's why we have decided to... All of our saints and seers were ready for the 'snan' when we were informed about this incident. That's why we have decided to call off our 'snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya'," Mahant Ravindra Puri told news agency PTI.

What UP CM Yogi Adityanath said?

Chief Minister Adityanath said that some devotees suffered serious injuries when they were trying to cross barricading on Akhara Marg. He added that the situation in Prayagraj is under control, but the crowd size remains huge.