Judicial Inquiry Ordered Into Maha Kumbh Tragedy; CM Announces Compensation

Following the tragic incident at Maha Kumbh in the early hours of Wednesday, which claimed the lives of 30 pilgrims during the Mauni Amavasya Snan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a judicial inquiry.

A three-member commission, led by former judge Harsh Kumar, with former DG VK Gupta and retired IAS officer DK Singh as members, has set up to investigate the incident.

The commission has been directed to submit its report within a set timeframe.

Additionally, authorities will conduct a police investigation to determine the causes of the accident.

On Thursday, the Chief Secretary and DGP will visit Prayagraj for an on-site review of the situation.

The Chief Minister has also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each deceased victim. Addressing the media on Wednesday evening, he expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, “This tragic accident happened due to heavy crowd and breaking of barricades. The administration had held several rounds of review meetings, yet how did this accident happen? There will be a thorough investigation.”

“The government has also announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs each to the families of the deceased. Apart from this, the Chief Secretary and DGP have been instructed to visit the spot and investigate on Thursday. They will take stock of the situation and submit the report,” he further added.

An emotional Chief Minister emphasized, “Despite extensive preparations, this accident is deeply sorrowful. We must ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”

He explained that a large number of devotees had arrived in Prayagraj since Tuesday evening, waiting for the Brahma Muhurta.

The incident took place at Akhara Marg near the Sangam, where an overwhelming crowd surged past barricades, leading to the loss of around 30 lives.

Additionally, the incident injured 36 people, who are receiving treatment in Prayagraj, while some have returned home with their families.

Yogi Adityanath noted that Prayagraj witnessed an estimated crowd of over 8 crore people on Wednesday.

To manage the influx, officials held devotees from neighboring districts – Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, and Kaushambi – in designated areas until the Akharas’ Amrit Snan finished, after which they allowed them to proceed.

With railway stations under immense pressure, the railways operated over 300 trains, including regular and special Mela trains.

Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation deployed more than 8,000 buses to accommodate the massive rush.

While the tragedy is devastating, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of learning from the incident.

Authorities will conduct a thorough investigation to prevent such incidents in the future.

Also Read: Swift Response Prevents Major Tragedy; Over 50 Ambulances Deployed In Maha Kumbh