Kumbh stampede unfortunate, focus was safety of 8 crore devotees: Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the stampede that occurred during the Mauni Amavasya Snan at the Kumbh Mela was an unfortunate incident and in the aftermath, the government's focus was on the safety of 8 crore devotees that were epected to take part in the festivities on the fateful day.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Yogi Adityanath said the stampede took place between 1:15 am and 1:30 am on the intervening night of January 28 and 29. "The incident happened when four crore devotees were already present in the Kumbh area," he stated.

With the sacred Amrit Snan scheduled to begin at 4 am, the authorities were preparing for a massive influx of devotees. "We had estimated that around eight crore devotees would participate in the Mauni Amavasya Snan. Additionally, nearly two crore devotees had to be stopped at Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Chitrakoot," Adityanath revealed.

"We had made arrangements in all these places for the devotees, and made arrangements for devotees' commute. We organised bhandaras and for the next 24 hours, 2 crore people were stopped here. Eight crore were in Prayagraj or about to reach Prayagraj. As a responsible government, our priority was that if an unfortunate incident has happened, we have to take the injured to hospital through a green corridor. The injured (from the stampede) were taken to hospitals within 15 minutes," Yogi Adityanath said.

He said that 65 people who were seriously



injured were taken to hospital, and unfortunately, 30 succumbed to their injuries and they were handed over to their families.

"Apart from expressing grief over the incident, our priority was the safety of the 8 crore devotees," Yogi Adityanath said.

He said that after the stampede, the officials were asked to ask the Akhadas to delay the snan. "We asked them to let the devotees take the dip first and after 12 pm we will arrange for their ritual bath," Yogi Adityanath said.

He expressed his thanks to the Akhadas and seers who heeded the request and delayed the ritual dip.

"By then the massive crowd has slightly receded from the sangam area," Yogi Adityanath said, adding that the government then focused on the bus stands and railway stations which were under massive pressure.

"The cops and mela authorities were asked to share the information on stampede with the media and with the government. After ensuring that the snan goes smoothly on Mauni Amavasya, the cops then reached the media centre and held press conference on the stampede," Yogi Adityanath said.

The UP Chief Minister reiterated that his government's priority was to have the devotees take the ritual bath and leave.

"I believe that the first point of crisis management is to protect those who are safe and to ensure medical treatment for those injured. The administration did both these tasks responsibly," Yogi Adityanath said at the India Today Conclave.