Maha Kumbh Stampede: Mamata Govt To Send Team To Prayagraj To Assess Situation
At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in the pre-dawn stampede in the Sangam area as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya.
The West Bengal government on Wednesday has announced sending a team to Maha Kumbh as it did not receive any information from the Uttar Pradesh administration about the condition of pilgrims from the state after the stampede, a senior official said.
A team of officials from the Resident Commissioner's office in New Delhi would go to Prayagraj to take stock of the situation, the official said.
At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in the pre-dawn stampede in the Sangam area as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya.
"We are unable to get information about the conditions of those who have gone from our state to Prayagraj for the Kumbh Mela. Attempts to get information from the UP government did not yield any result," the official said, according to PTI.
ALSO READ | 4 From Karnataka, One Each From Assam, Gujarat Among Those Killed In Maha Kumbh Stampede
"Following this, we have decided to send a team from the office of the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi to Uttar Pradesh to understand the situation and condition of the pilgrims from West Bengal," the official added.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee offered her condolences to the bereaved families in the Maha Kumbh stampede.
Banerjee while taking to her X handle stated that her experiences of organising the annual Gangasagar Mela in Bengal warrant "maximal planning and care" to handle huge assemblies such as the Kumbh.
"I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which has claimed at least 15 innocent lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved pilgrim families. My learning from our Gangasagar Mela is that planning and care must be maximal in matters relating to pilgrims' lives in vast assemblies of people. Prayers for the departed souls," Mamata said in a post on X.
Several hours after the stampede took place in the early hours of Wednesday, Maha Kumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna gave the details of the casualties at a press conference 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," the senior bureaucrat said.
The officer said 25 of the deceased have been identified. Four of them are from Karnataka and one each from Assam and Gujarat.
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