The UP government's official press release said that 30 people lost their lives in a stampede on Wednesday morning during the Maha Kumbh Mela. It is estimated that almost 40 crore devotees have already attended the religious jamboree that takes place only once in 12 years. The death counts may not be the exact one and as experience suggests, it takes ample time to take count of the total casualties. The numbers may rise.

The UP government's attempt to turn the Mahakumbh Mela, into the world's largest pilgrimage gathering, has been overshadowed by an unexpected tragedy. Hindus believe Mauni Amavasya is the best day for taking a holy bath in the Ganges. It is reported that almost ten crore people were crowded in Prayagraj the other day. These numbers are contested but the report that almost six crore devotees took holy dip in Ganges before the stampede the other day seems credible.

It is reported that the barricades were broken by devotees waiting in line for their chance to take the holy dip in the Ganges. This is said to have invited the tragedy. Most of the victims of the disaster were women. In cases like this, women are the most vulnerable. The UP government has appointed a three-member judicial commission to probe the reasons behind the disaster.

A compensation of Rs 25 lakh each was announced for the dependents of the deceased. The Adityanath government is now under fire for security breaches at one of the world’s most revered religious celebrations. All the opposition parties are blaming the UP government for the issue. They allege that the government has flouted all safety norms in an attempt to set a world record.

But a sneak peek into history would suggest that the 2025 Mahakumbh tragedy was less in magnitude compared with erstwhile cases. A century ago there was an incident where more than 800 people died due to crowding in the Kumbh Mela itself. Thousands of people have lost their lives in stampedes related to the pilgrimage in various states.

Last month more than six people were killed in the Tirupati temple stampede. In 2011, 104 people died in a stampede at the Sabarimala hills. Such tragedies remind us of the need for tight security measures at religious festival sites.

The UP government and lakhs of officials, who have worked tirelessly day and night to make the Maha Kumbh Mela a grand event, managed things with utmost efficiency till Tuesday. Meanwhile, rumours are rife that subversive forces are working to disrupt the Kumbh Mela. We have to wait for the completion of the judicial commission's inquiry to know what happened at the Tirtha Ghat at Prayagraj. The commission has been directed to submit the report within one month.