There is a dispute over the deaths in the stampede that took place on the day of Mauni Amavasya on 29 January during the Mahakumbh Mela held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh from 14 January to 26 February. The government confirmed 37 deaths in the incident, while in a report in BBC Hindi, the number of deaths has been stated to be 82. Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, reacted during a press conference in Varanasi.
Keshav Prasad Maurya said that the government will respond to the media, but the claims should not be taken seriously without confirmation. He said that Mahakumbh was a very sacred and grand event in which about 66 crore devotees attended. He expressed deep grief towards the families of the deceased and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have also expressed condolences on this sad incident. The government has also ensured the assistance of the affected families and tried to ensure that all the devotees go back safely.
At the same time, after the report of BBC Hindi, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav has asked the government to demand a thorough investigation into the matter. He said that this report is the beginning of the deaths in Mahakumbh and the discovery of the truth of money associated with them. He said that when the truth comes out, the layers of hidden lies open and no information management can stop it.
Amidst this controversy, there is a comprehensive political and social debate over the stampede incident at the Mahakumbh Mela and the data related to it. Differences over the number of dead have raised questions on the seriousness and security arrangements of the incident. The government says that it is standing with every victim’s family and providing necessary help, while the opposition is demanding transparency and accountability in the matter.
In the Mahakumbh Mela, which is considered to be the largest religious event in the world, such an accident has highlighted the need for the security management of the event and better preparation of such events in the future.
