11 Bihar Devotees Among 30 Killed in Prayagraj Mahakumbh Stampede, CM Announces Ex-Gratia Compensation

The Prayagraj Mahakumbh stampede claimed the lives of 11 Bihar devotees. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announces Rs.2 lakh compensation for each victim's family and Rs.50,000 for the injured.

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In a tragic incident at the Prayagraj Mahakumbh earlier this week, 11 devotees from Bihar were among the 30 people who lost their lives in a stampede. The chaos occurred at the Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers converge, as a massive crowd gathered for a holy dip on the auspicious day of Mauni Amavasya.

The Bihar Chief Minister’s office confirmed the death toll on Saturday, revealing that 11 of the victims were from various districts across the state. The deceased hailed from Gopalganj (4), Aurangabad (2), and one each from Patna, Muzaffarpur, Supaul, Banka, and West Champaran. The stampede, which took place on Wednesday, saw an overwhelming rush of pilgrims, creating a fatal crush of people eager to participate in the sacred ritual.

In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed deep grief and announced an ex gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for each family who lost a loved one in the stampede. Additionally, the CM’s office confirmed that each injured person from Bihar would receive ₹50,000 in assistance from the Chief Minister’s relief fund.

The Prayagraj Mahakumbh is a religious gathering that attracts millions of devotees from across India and abroad. This year’s stampede occurred during Mauni Amavasya, a day considered particularly auspicious for bathing at the Sangam. The overwhelming number of pilgrims led to a fatal bottleneck, leaving dozens injured and causing mass panic as people struggled to move amidst the crowd.

At least 30 people died, and over 60 others were injured in the tragic incident. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the stampede, which has drawn widespread concern regarding crowd control measures and safety protocols at such large-scale religious events.

The tragedy has prompted calls for stricter crowd management and improved safety measures at future religious gatherings to prevent such incidents. Local authorities in Prayagraj, along with state officials, have vowed to increase safety measures at the Mahakumbh to ensure the safety of devotees attending future events.

The Chief Minister’s announcement of compensation and relief comes as a much-needed support for the grieving families who are now left to cope with the loss of their loved ones. Nitish Kumar’s office emphasized that the state government stands with the affected families and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure further assistance to those impacted by the disaster.

While the government extends financial aid to the victims’ families and those injured, the community remains shaken by the scale of the tragedy. The Prayagraj Mahakumbh is known for its spiritual significance, and incidents like this highlight the need for more robust safety protocols to protect the well-being of millions of pilgrims who gather annually for the event.

This year’s Mahakumbh stampede serves as a painful reminder of the dangers that come with such large public gatherings, underscoring the importance of organizing and managing such events with greater responsibility to safeguard the lives of participants.

The Bihar government’s swift response and the compensation offered are important steps in providing immediate support, but long-term measures must be taken to ensure that such a disaster never happens again.

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