Kumbh Mela stampede updates: 25 people killed in stampede identified, says DIG Vaibhav Krishna

Prayagraj Kumbh Mela stampede updates: A stampede-like situation broke out at Sangam in the early hours of Wednesday amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh, as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath

7:05 PM

25 of 30 people killed in stampede identified: DIG Vaibhav Krishna

DIG Vaibhav Krishna informed in a press conference that 25 of the 30 people got killed in Maha Kumbh stampede have been identified. He further informed that 36 are undergoing treatment, while some have been sent with their family.

6:04 PM

Himachal CM expresses grief over Maha Kumbh stampede tragedy

Evryone around the corners of the country is responding to a tragic Maha Kumbh stampede. From PM to politicians from every party to businessman Gautam Adani are expressing their condolences. In the same, Himachal CM Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, according to an official statement from the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

4:51 PM

Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expresses grief over stampede at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in a stampede at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. He also prayed to the Almighty for peace for the departed souls and strength for the bereaved families to endure this irreparable loss.

4:47 PM

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee condoles 'pilgrim deaths' at Kumbh Mela

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which has claimed at least 15 innocent lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved pilgrim families. My learning from our Gangasagar Mela is that planning and care must be maximal in matters relating to pilgrims' lives in vast assemblies of people. Prayers for the departed souls," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.

4:23 PM

Akharas resume 'Amrit snan'

Amrit snan, the traditional bathing ritual of akharas that was deferred due to the stampede at Maha Kumbh, resumed on Wednesday. Led by Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, the procession of akharas made its way on foot towards the Sangam for the snan.

4:19 PM

VIP culture is the main problem: Aam Aadmi Party

The Aam Aadmi Party criticised the administrative setup for the stampede, calling for an end to VIP culture. “We never wanted to comment on this, but the reality is clear - VIP culture is the main problem. Roads are being closed for VIP movement, causing chaos for the devotees,” Singh claimed.

4:15 PM

Nearly 40 bodies at morgue after Maha Kumbh stampede

According to police sources speaking to Reuters, nearly 40 bodies were transported to a hospital morgue following a stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. As of twelve hours after the incident, local authorities had not yet released any official casualty figures.

3:50 PM

A look at India's deadliest stampedes

Stampedes at religious festivals have occurred in the past due to high footfall and limited crowd control measures. Here’s a look at similar incidents in India over the years:

 

-January 2025: Andhra Pradesh temple tragedy

-July 2024: Hathras disaster

-January 2022: Vaishno Devi stampede
-November 2013: Ratangarh temple disaster

Read here for a detailed story.

 

 

3:39 PM

Kumbh Mela 2025 LIVE updates: Amit Shah says he in constant touch with UP CM

Home Minister Amit Shah stated that he is in constant touch with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and the local administration.

 

2:53 PM

Restrictions for VIP visits created Kumbh tragedy, says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader

More than Rs 10,000 crore has been spent for the management of Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj, the party’s Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut stated.  The party leader asked who was responsible for the stampede at the Maha Kumbh and alleged that cordoning of certain parts of the riverbank for visits by Ministers leads to such situations.

 

2:39 PM

Priyanka Gandhi urges UP government to arrange for proper treatment of those injured

“The news of large number of devotees being killed in the accident that took place on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya at the holy place Prayagraj is extremely sad. May God give peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. Efforts should also be made to complete the centuries-old tradition of the Shahi Snan of the Akharas. Devotees are requested to complete the bath and donation with patience and peace,” Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said on X. 

2:27 PM

Wishing for the speedy recovery of those injured: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called the accident extremely painful. 

 

2:16 PM

Kumbh Mela updates 2025: Seer questions 'prioritising' of VIPs over public

Religious leader Mahamandleshwar Premanand Puri hit out at the authorities, accusing them of prioritising VIPs over public safety.

1:23 PM

Hoping for speedy recovery of injured devotees, says President Droupadi Murmu

Condoling the stampede incident at the Maha Kumbh, President Droupadi Murmu stated that the stampede incident at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad.

1:20 PM

Yogi Adityanath govt fully responsible, he should resign for this: Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj

“This is a very serious issue. The Uttar Pradesh government invited the entire country and millions of people to the Maha Kumbh, making good arrangements. However, the state’s chief minister, who should have overseen the arrangements, left for political rallies in Delhi. This is a huge blunder. The BJP government has turned a religious event into a political one. Yogi Adityanath and the administration are fully responsible for this situation, and he should resign for this,” says Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj.

12:50 PM

'There was no stampede, situation is under control,' says senior police official

"There was no stampede. It was just overcrowding due to which some devotees got injured. The situation is completely under control. No kind of rumours must be paid heed to. Amrit Snan will soon begin. All preparations for Amrit Snan have been made. Many ghats have been developed and people are easily taking a dip in those ghats. I don't have numbers on casualties or injuries," SSP Kumbh Mela Rajesh Dwivedi  said.

 

12:26 PM

Kumbh Mela updates 2025 LIVE: How Maha Kumbh stampede unfolded

The tragic accident took place at around 1:00 am at the Sangam Nose area in Prayagraj as massive crowds surged towards the ghats for the highly anticipated ritual bath on Mauni Amavasya. However, the  lack of clear directions soon led to commotion. Several pilgrims were injured, and there were reports of casualties, including deaths, though the administration has yet to confirm.

12:16 PM

Local administration at Maha Kumbh offering all possible help to victims: PM Modi

PM Modi said,"Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj extremely saddening, my deepest condolences to devouts who have lost their family members."  PM Modi added the local administration at Maha Kumbh offering all possible help to victims and he was in constant touch with state government. 

11:58 AM

Deepest condolences to devotees who have lost their loved ones: PM Modi

11:47 AM

Kumbha Mela updates: I appeal to devotees to not believe any false rumours, says CM Yogi Aditynath

“Till 8.30am, around 3.5 crore pilgrims have taken holy dip. The administration is doing their job. I appeal to the devotees, saints to not believe any rumour, they can take holy dip anywhere, it is not necessary to take a dip at Sangam nose,” CM Yogi Adityanath said.

11:05 AM

Kumbh Mela stampede updates: Families line up outside makeshift hospital

Kumbh stampede LIVE updates: Concerned relatives gathered outside a temporary medical facility seeking information about missing family members, while rescue workers tended to the injured and law enforcement worked to control the crowds. Multiple casualties were feared with many more wounded after a surge of thousands of worshippers rushed toward the river for ritual bathing at the Maha Kumbh festival.

11:00 AM

Death of devotees in the stampede is saddening: Congress leader Pawan Khera

"The death of many devotees in the stampede during Kumbh bath in Prayagraj is very saddening. The kind of crowd that was there and the half-baked arrangements that were put in place, there was always a danger of such an accident happening," Pawan Khera said.

10:38 AM

Kumbh stampede LIVE updates: Congress criticises Yogi govt for 'half-baked' arrangements

Mahakumbh 2025 LIVE:  "Half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion and mismanagement are responsible for this. Such arrangements despite spending thousands of crores of rupees are condemnable,"  Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.

10:28 AM

Kumbh Mela updates 2025 LIVE: Maintain patience and be cautious, says Arvind Kejriwal

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal says: "The stampede incident in Mahakumbh is extremely sad. I pray for the peace of the souls of the devotees who lost their lives in this accident. May God give strength to their families to bear this immense sorrow. A humble appeal to all devotees is to maintain patience and be cautious. Follow the instructions of the administration and take care of each other's safety."

10:21 AM

Akharas call off Mauni Amavasya 'Amrit Snan'

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri announced that seers had decided to call off the Mauni Amavasya 'Amrit Snan' due to the situation. 

10:20 AM

No plan to cancel any special train: Ministry of Railways

The Railways has planned to run more than 360 trains from the various stations in the Prayagraj region today. As of now, there is no plan to cancel any special train, the Ministry of Railways said.

10:02 AM

Enhanced surveillance needed: Akhilesh Yadav on stampede-like situation at Maha Kumbh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday expressed grief over several people being injured in a stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and underlined the need for enhanced surveillance at the event. Multiple casualties were feared after the stampede-like situation broke out at the Sangam as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on 'Mauni Amavasya.'