The death toll in the stampede during the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj has risen to 15. The accident occurred when a barricade collapsed during the Amrit Snan. Around 30 women were injured in the accident. After the women fell unconscious, they were admitted to the hospital at the Mahakumbh Mela grounds.
The seriously injured have been shifted to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College. Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, announced that the Amrit Snan on the day of Mauni Amavasya has been stopped following the accident caused by uncontrolled crowding.
Mahant Hari Giri, general secretary of Akhara Parishad and patron of Juna Akhara, also appealed to devotees to return after taking a dip in the Ganga river. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation following the accident. He spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the phone and directed that emergency relief operations be taken up as soon as possible.
