Maha Kumbh stampede

On January 29, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, leading to at least 30 fatalities and over 60 injuries.

• The stampede was caused by overcrowding as millions of devotees gathered for the ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
• A three-member panel was set up by the Uttar Pradesh government under Clause 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 to investigate the incident.
• The commission members include Justice Harsh Kumar(retired High Court judge), K. Singh (retired IAS officer), and V.K. Gupta (former DGP).
• The Maha Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu pilgrimage that occurs every 12 years at four locations: Allahabad (Prayagraj), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik.
• The 2025 festival was a Maha (Great) Kumbh Mela, which occurs only every 144 years.