A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court after a tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025, which claimed at least 30 lives and injured over 60 people. Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, advised the petitioner to formally approach the Registry for an urgent hearing. The petition highlights “lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration” and seeks a status report from the Uttar Pradesh government, legal action against officials, and nationwide safety measures for large religious gatherings.
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NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, on Thursday, January 30, 2025, responded to a lawyer who was asking for an urgent hearing about the stampede deaths at the MahaKumbh in Prayagraj.
The lawyer, Vishal Tiwari, wanted the Supreme Court to order the Uttar Pradesh government to give a report on the incident.
Chief Justice Khanna told him to submit a written request to the Supreme Court Registry and explain why he needed the case to be heard quickly.
The petition filed by Vishal Tiwari has accused the Uttar Pradesh administration of “lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration.”
According to media reports, at least 30 people lost their lives, and over 60 were injured in the stampede.
The petition has requested the Supreme Court to order the Uttar Pradesh government to provide-
“A status report on Maha Kumbh stampede incident that took place on January 29, 2025 and also direct to initiate legal action against the persons, authorities and officials for their negligent conduct.”
Vishal Tiwari has also asked the Supreme Court to set rules and safety measures for pilgrims all over the country so that such tragic incidents can be avoided at large religious gatherings. The stampede happened at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh on January 29.
A massive crowd of devotees had gathered to take a holy dip in the river on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, leading to a rush and chaos.
The petition has also suggested that special aid and help centres should be set up for the devotees at the Maha Kumbh. It also recommended that other States should coordinate with Uttar Pradesh and send small teams of doctors and medical staff to handle emergency situations.
BACKGROUND
A legal request called a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Supreme Court of India after the tragic stampede that occurred during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The petition asks for proper safety measures and rules to be set for pilgrims coming from different parts of the country.
The stampede, which happened on the morning of January 29, resulted in the loss of at least 30 lives, while over 60 people suffered injuries in the Sangam area of Maha Kumbh.
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The PIL has been filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, who has requested the court to instruct all States to establish facilitation centres at Prayagraj. These centres will help pilgrims by providing basic information about safety measures and guidelines to avoid such incidents in the future.
The petition also suggests that important announcements should be made, and display boards should be set up showing directions, roads, and important information in different languages. This will ensure that pilgrims from different States do not struggle and can get help whenever needed.
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“All States Governments with coordination of Uttar Pradesh Government shall also deploy its small Medical team at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh comprising of Doctors and Nurses so that at the time of medical emergency there may not be shortage of Medical staff,”
– the petition states.
The petition also demands legal action against the authorities and officials whose negligence caused the tragic incident.
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“Direct the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit status report on Maha Kumbh 2025 stampede incident that took place on January 29, 2025 and also direct to initiate legal action against the persons, authorities and officials for their negligent conduct,”
-it has been demanded in the plea.
This tragic incident at the Maha Kumbh 2025 has raised concerns about crowd management, safety planning, and medical preparedness at large religious gatherings. The Supreme Court’s decision on this petition will be crucial in ensuring that such accidents do not happen in the future.
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