Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has strongly condemned the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, which tragically claimed the lives of at least 15 individuals. The incident, which occurred during the massive congregation of devotees on the auspicious day of Mauni Amavasya, has ignited a political storm, with Yadav questioning the Uttar Pradesh government’s handling of the event and its claims of a “world-class system.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Yadav demanded that those responsible for promoting the event’s security and management take moral responsibility for the tragedy and resign from their positions. “Now that the truth behind the claims of ‘world-class system’ has been exposed, those who were making these claims and spreading false propaganda should take moral responsibility for the people killed in this accident and resign from their posts,” Yadav wrote.
Yadav further called for the management of the Maha Kumbh to be immediately handed over to the Indian Army rather than the Uttar Pradesh government. He argued that such a move would help restore faith among the devotees and the saint community, who were left disillusioned by the tragedy.
“In order to re-instill faith in the system among the saint community and devotees who have come to the Maha Kumbh, it is necessary that the administration and management of the Maha Kumbh should be immediately handed over to the Army instead of the UP government and administration,” he said.
The Samajwadi Party leader also emphasized the need for swift action from the state government to assist the injured and ensure no further disruptions. He proposed the use of air ambulances for those seriously injured and called for the prompt identification and return of the deceased to their families.
As emergency services rushed to the scene, ambulances transported the injured to a central hospital located within the Mela grounds. The stampede occurred as thousands of devotees gathered to take a holy dip in the Ganga, marking one of the key moments of the Maha Kumbh Mela. Authorities have vowed to conduct thorough investigations into the incident, which has raised concerns over crowd management at one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
The incident has put a spotlight on the government’s preparedness and the logistical challenges of managing such a massive event, as the death toll is feared to rise further with more injured individuals receiving treatment.
Sources By Agencies