A PIL has been filed seeking a judicial panel to monitor and find details of people missing after the Kumbh stampede. Petitioner Suresh Chandra Pandey from Prayagraj cited reports about victims’ bodies being kept in poor conditions. The plea highlights concerns over handling the tragedy and demands better accountability. The court’s response to this petition is awaited.
Prayagraj: A public interest litigation (PIL) submitted to the Allahabad High Court, requesting the establishment of a judicial monitoring committee to gather information about individuals who reportedly went missing during the stampede at the Maha Kumbh on January 29.
The petitioner, Suresh Chandra Pandey from Prayagraj district, cited reports indicating that the bodies of the victims were being stored in “appalling conditions,” left on the floor wrapped in gunny bags without refrigeration, leading to decomposition.
Just a day prior to the filing of this PIL, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain another PIL seeking action against Uttar Pradesh state officials regarding the stampede, directing the petitioner to approach the Allahabad High Court instead.
On the early morning of January 29, a large crowd breached barriers at the Maha Kumbh, trampling over devotees who had been waiting overnight at the ghats for a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar.
Nearly 18 hours post-incident, the Mela administration confirmed in a brief press conference that 30 people had died and 60 were injured.
In response, the Uttar Pradesh government has set up a three-member judicial commission, led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Harsh Kumar, to investigate the stampede, inviting the public to share information about the incident.
On January 29, 2025, during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, a tragic stampede took place in the early morning, leading to the death of at least 30 people and injuring 60 others. The incident happened between 1 and 2 a.m. on the festival’s most important day when huge crowds gathered to take a holy dip at the confluence of sacred rivers.
The stampede started when some devotees tried to jump over barricades, creating panic and suffocation in the crowd. Many people got stuck between the barricades and the police, who were using batons, causing serious injuries like broken bones, fractures, and even heart attacks.