Prayagraj: The three-member judicial commission, formed to investigate the cause of the tragic incident during Mauni Amavasya at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh that claimed 30 lives, has been granted a one-month extension. Following the tragedy, the state government had constituted the judicial inquiry commission under the chairmanship of retired Allahabad High Court judge Harsh Kumar.
The commission also includes retired IPS officer VK Gupta and retired IAS officer DK Singh as members. The commission was initially required to submit its report within a month. However, the deadline has now been extended by another month. The commission must now submit its report to the state government by the first week of March.
Stampede kills 30 pilgrims
A stampede during the Mauni Amavasya celebrations at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025, killed 30 people and injured over 90. It happened between 1 and 2 am near Sangam Ghat, where millions had gathered for a holy dip. Eyewitnesses said the stampede started when a barrier broke, causing panic in the crowd. Authorities quickly began rescue efforts and set up a green corridor to rush the injured to hospitals. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a judicial inquiry and announced Rs 25 lakh for each victim’s family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders also expressed their condolences.
2013 stampede
In 2013, a stampede at Prayagraj railway station during Mauni Amavasya in the Maha Kumbh killed at least 36 pilgrims, mostly women. Around 30 million people had gathered that day, the busiest of the Kumbh Mela. The incident led state minister Azam Khan to resign as the Mela organising committee chief. He said the stampede happened outside the Mela area but took moral responsibility and stepped down. To manage the crowd, the railways ran 69 special trains along with 112 regular ones. Despite the deployment of over 14,000 security personnel, ambulances could not reach the injured for two hours.
