15,000 missing in Mahakumbh stampede, claims Samajwadi Party MP; UP Govt criticized for lack of transparency

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav has raised concerns over the Mahakumbh stampede in Prayagraj, claiming that 15,000 people have reported missing relatives since the incident in January. He accused the Uttar Pradesh government of failing to release critical information about the casualties and the whereabouts of those affected by the tragedy. As of now, the government has not provided an official list of victims, leaving many families searching for their loved ones.

The stampede took place during the Mouni Amawasya ritual, a peak day of the Mahakumbh, at the Triveni Sangam, where millions of pilgrims had gathered for a holy dip. Early reports indicated at least 30 fatalities, with many others injured, though eyewitnesses and some reports suggest that the true death toll may be higher. The stampede occurred due to overcrowding in the narrow passageways, which led to chaos. Some witnesses claim that bodies were thrown into the Ganga River and others were buried under the stampede, but these accounts remain unverified.

Yadav compared the current handling of the situation to the 1954 Prayag Kumbh Mela stampede, where then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru addressed Parliament and immediately provided information about the number of casualties. Yadav emphasized that the government of the time had been transparent in its communication, whereas the present administration has not shared any official death toll or details of those who were injured. "When there was a big stampede in 1954, on the very first day Jawaharlal Nehru said in the House that 400 people had died and 2,000 were injured," Yadav pointed out.

Further criticism was directed at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government for allegedly prioritizing arrangements for VIPs over the safety of ordinary people. Reports suggest that special lanes were created for VIP access, while the safety measures for the general public, who made up the majority of the pilgrims, were insufficient. Yadav claimed that this neglect contributed to the stampede, as the administration did not take the necessary precautions to prevent such incidents in a highly crowded environment.

In response to the incident, opposition parties have united in Parliament, calling for an urgent discussion on the stampede and demanding the release of an official list of casualties. While some opposition leaders have pointed to potential administrative negligence, others have emphasized the need for accountability and transparency. Meanwhile, over 2.57 crore people participated in the Amrit Snan on Basant Panchmi, and the Akharas resumed their grand processions after a temporary pause due to the stampede.