A heap of colourful clothes, lone slippers without their pairs, torn bags, and hastily abandoned blankets lay strewn across the ground at Sangam Nose, a grim reminder of the chaos that unfolded in the early hours of the morning. Among the debris, a packet of roti-left untouched-spoke of pilgrims who had arrived with hope and devotion but left in panic.
A stampede broke out around 1 am, as millions of devotees surged forward for the 'Amrit Snan' on Mauni Amavasya, one of the holiest days of the six-week-long Maha Kumbh. More than 30 people were injured, and several others are feared dead in the crush near the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
Even as the police cordoned off the area, anxious devotees could still be seen searching through the abandoned belongings. Sunita Devi, a pilgrim from Chhattisgarh, frantically sifted through the pile of clothes. "My husband's shawl was here... we lost our bag in the rush. It had our money, our train tickets. What will we do now?" she said, her voice breaking.
Nearby, Biplab Bhattacharya, who had traveled from Kolkata, looked around helplessly. "My sister had a small bundle with her-a warm blanket and some food. I do not know where she is, and I can't even find her things," he said.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and desperation, with devotees stepping over scattered belongings as they tried to escape. Some even climbed barriers and pontoons in the chaos.
"People were screaming, running. I saw slippers flying, bags being trampled. Someone fell right in front of me, and there was no space to pick them up," said Mohan Yadav, a devotee from Varanasi. The stampede occurred between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees attempted to cross barricades at Akhara Marg, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed.
"At the Akhara route, where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan, some devotees broke through the barricades. Several were critically injured and were rushed to hospitals," he said after a high-level meeting in Lucknow.
The Significance of Sangam Nose
Sangam Nose, named for its distinctive shape, is considered the most sacred bathing spot at the Kumbh. Saints, sages, and thousands of devotees prioritize bathing here, believing it grants spiritual liberation.
According to initial reports, the stampede occurred as thousands surged forward to reach this particular spot. The pressure of the crowd became unmanageable, leading to a sudden crush.
The administration quickly launched relief and rescue operations, diverting crowds and opening additional routes to bring the situation under control. Despite warnings, some devotees still attempted to re-enter the area, searching for missing relatives and belongings.
Rescue teams remain at the site, and authorities have urged devotees to remain calm and follow security protocols to prevent further incidents.