Rescue operation underway after a stampede occurred on 'Mauni Amavasya' during the ongoing 'Maha Kumbh Mela' festival, in Prayagraj, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.Photo: PTI Rescue operation underway after a stampede occurred on 'Mauni Amavasya' during the ongoing 'Maha Kumbh Mela' festival, in Prayagraj, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.Photo: PTI A ‘stampede-like’ situation broke out at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj early Wednesday after a large number of pilgrims turned up to take a dip in Sangam on the occasion of ‘Mauni Amavasya’. Several people, including women and childrenpera play, suffered injuries with some feared dead.
Injured people were taken to the makeshift hospital in Sector 2 of the Mela area. Although the exact count of casualties is not clear yet, several media reports said that at least 10 people are feared dead and around 40 injured.
"This series is not just about the two teams playing; it's about reviving the spirit of hockey in Delhi. We hope this will inspire more young players from the region to take up the game," Harmanpreet stated in a press release issued by Hockey India.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed his enthusiasm and stated: "This bilateral series against Germany will be a remarkable showcase of world-class hockey. Both India and Germany have a rich history in the sport, and this series will give fans an opportunity to witness an intense competition between two of the most formidable teams in the world.
“Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised after a barrier broke at the Sangam. We are yet to have the exact count of those injured,” PTI quoted Akanksha Rana, Officer on Special Duty for the Mela.
Following the incident, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri said that the seers have called off their Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan.
“You would've seen what happened in the morning, and that's why we have decided to... All of our saints and seers were ready for the ‘snan’ when we were informed about this incident. That's why we have decided to call off our ‘snan’ on 'Mauni Amavasya',” Mahant Ravindra Puri told PTI.
“We came in a batch of 60 people in two buses, we were nine people in the group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. A lot of us fell down and the crowd went uncontrolled. There was no chance for escape, there was pushing from all sides,” Sarojini from Karnataka told PTI.
nolimit cityThe Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims. This yearpera play, a rare celestial alignment called 'Triveni Yog' is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day.
