A devastating incident occurred at the Kumbh Mela religious festival in India, as it was reported that at least 12 people may have been killed in a crush during the grand gathering. As millions of people flocked to the festival in India’s Uttarakhand state, the once-in-five-years event has seen the emergence of large-scale challenges related to crowd control. Reports have emerged that a large number of devotees were crushed during a ‘shahi snan,’ or royal bath, that took place in the early hours of the morning in Haridwar. Police officials have acknowledged that hundreds of devotees were stranded in the water with no clear exit route, resulting in a dangerous situation that tragically led to the deaths of at least 12 individuals. Overcrowding during large religious gatherings is not unheard of in India; however, the Kumbh Mela is a massive event that presents specific management challenges for the agencies responsible for crowd welfare. The festival is considered one of the largest religious gatherings in the world and would typically attract over 100 million visitors during its roughly 55-day duration. It is a significant highlight of the spiritual calendar in India, with holy men, pilgrims, and tourists from around the world participating in the sacred rituals that take place in the River Ganges. Despite best efforts to manage the Kumbh Mela, the tragic incident will undoubtedly prompt a debate over safety measures, crowd management, and overall infrastructure preparedness to handle such high numbers of people.
Dozens Trapped and Feared Dead in Crush at India’s Kumbh Mela Festivities
