Probe ordered after deadly stampede at India's Kumbh Festival

Indian authorities have launched an investigation into a deadly stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu festival that killed dozens of devotees Wednesday, as millions gathered for a "holy dip" in sacred river waters during the six-week event, officials said.

Police reported that at least 30 people were killed and 90 injured in the crush at the world's largest religious gathering. However, sources told Reuters the death toll was closer to 40.

Witnesses described a massive surge toward the rivers that caused people to fall on each other, while others blamed the closure of routes to the water, which led to overcrowding, suffocation, and collapse.

Saroja and Kanchan Kopde react outside a hospital mortuary following a stampede that occurred before the second "Shahi Snan" (royal bath), at the "Maha Kumbh Mela" or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India January 29, 2025.Reuters

Judicial Inquiry Launched

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced late Wednesday that a judicial commission had been formed to investigate the incident.

"The government has decided that a judicial inquiry will be conducted. For this, we have formed a three-member judicial commission," Adityanath told reporters.

"The commission will review the entire incident and submit its report to the state government within a set timeframe," he added.

Millions Gather for Holy Dip

Officials said that by 8 p.m. (1430 GMT) Wednesday, more than 76 million people had bathed at the confluence of three sacred rivers in Prayagraj, a city in northern Uttar Pradesh state.

Since the festival began two weeks ago, nearly 280 million people have attended, including federal ministers, industrialists, and celebrities.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is expected to draw approximately 400 million devotees in 2025, officials estimate. By comparison, last year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia attracted 1.8 million people.

Hindus believe that bathing at the meeting point of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers absolves them of sins and offers salvation from the cycle of birth and death.

A relative of a stampede victim cries as she sits next to a victim's body inside an ambulance, outside a hospital mortuary, following a stampede that occurred before the second "Shahi Snan" (royal bath), at the "Maha Kumbh Mela" or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India January 29, 2025. Reuters

Calls for Better Crowd Management

Opposition leaders blamed the tragedy on mismanagement and urged the government to improve festival arrangements. Local media echoed concerns, with the Hindustan Times calling for stronger crowd control measures.

"There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh," the newspaper wrote in an editorial Thursday.

"There is no doubt that more personnel need to be deployed, and better planning is required—using both ground resources and modern technology," it added, stressing that similar disasters must be prevented at upcoming "royal dips."

More ‘Royal Dips’ Ahead

While devotees bathe daily during the festival, certain dates are considered especially sacred. Wednesday was one such day, and three more "royal dips" are scheduled before the event concludes.

Authorities face mounting pressure to ensure safety as millions more are expected to gather in the coming weeks.