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Published 15:42 IST, January 31st 2025

6 Dead, Several Injured After Truck Rams Vehicle Carrying Kumbh Devotees in UP's Ghazipur

Truck Rams Vehicle Carrying Kumbh Devotees, Several Feared Dead.

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New Delhi: At least six people were reportedly killed and several others injured after an uncontrolled truck rammed into a pickup van carrying devotees returning from Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh Mela. The incident took place on Friday evening in the Kusmi Kala area near the Nandganj police station, reports said.

According to initial reports, around 20 passengers were on board the pickup van when the collision occurred. The impact of the crash resulted in multiple casualties, while the injured were immediately rushed to Ghazipur Medical College for treatment.

Meanwhile, the truck driver fled the scene following the accident. Officials have launched a search operation to track down the driver and ascertain the cause of the crash.

The road accident comes days after 30 people were killed and 60 injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of one of the most auspicious days of Mauni Amavasya.

Several hours after the incident took place between 1-2 am, Maha Kumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna gave the details of the casualties at a press conference here in the evening.

"The incident took place due to the pressure of the crowd. The crowd broke barricades and jumped to the other side, crushing those waiting there. Over 90 injured were rushed to the hospital, of whom 30 died," he said.

The officer said 25 of the deceased have been identified. Four of them are from Karnataka and one each from Assam and Gujarat . Among those injured, 36 are undergoing treatment at the hospital and the rest have been sent with their families.

Later in the night, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a three-member judicial commission, comprising Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retd IAS VK Singh to look into the reasons behind the stampede. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.

"It is important to get to the bottom of the whole episode on how such a tragedy occurred," a visibly emotional Adityanath said, adding that the chief secretary and DGP would visit the Maha Kumbh on Thursday for an in-depth probe into the tragic incident.

DIG Krishna said barricades have been placed in the mela and akhara areas for lane management but they gave way under the pressure of the jostling.

As the barricades broke, people fell on those sitting and waiting to take the holy dip during the 'brahm muhurt' (early morning time considered auspicious to perform certain activities), he said.

Many ordinary people, including women and children, fell down and were crushed.

The officer said the government has issued strict directives there will be no VIP protocol in the mela from now onwards.

According to eyewitness accounts, one of the reasons for the tragedy was the sudden surge of pilgrims at the Sangam - all driven by an obvious desire to take the holy dip at 3 am, the start of the auspicious hour.

After the stampede, Amrit snan, the traditional bathing ritual of akharas, was deferred but it resumed in the afternoon. The bathing for devotees, however, continued at the tightly-packed Sangam and other ghats along the Ganges which were less crowded.

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Updated 20:16 IST, January 31st 2025