Amid allegations of the death toll in the recent stampede tragedy at the Maha Kumbh being played down, it is important that the authorities conduct a transparent and thorough probe into the matter.
The Opposition, especially the Samajwadi Party, has been raising the issue in Parliament, pointing out that the Uttar Pradesh government is yet to release a list of casualties six days after the tragedy. They have demanded the resignation of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. T
he local administration has been accused of failure to handle the expected crowd surge on Mauni Amavasya. The most baffling aspect was that it took till evening for the government to admit to deaths in the stampede. This was after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had already tweeted their condolences to the kin of the dead.
Accounts from the ground indicate that the toll was much higher than what was officially put out by the state government. The gathering of crores of people went out of control, and the police and security agencies were unable to control the crush.
The Maha Kumbh, a cosmic phenomenon that occurs once in 144 years, has been honoured by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is among the world’s largest gatherings and attracts the faithful and tourists from India and abroad.
The belief that a dip in the Sangam during the Maha Kumbh will wash away all one’s sins draws millions to the confluence of the three rivers in Prayagraj. Ahead of the Maha Kumbh this year, the UP government went on a publicity blitz outlining the foolproof arrangements made for the pilgrims, including eating places, tents and toilets.
They also promised adequate security and police presence. However, their claims were belied when the stampede occurred. Relatives of the dead and missing are still running helter-skelter trying to trace them. There is no clarity on the death toll and the number of injured. Many of those who were witnesses to the stampede said the police were nowhere to be found when the tragedy occurred.
The focus on VVIPs has also been blamed for the stampede, as the police are pulled away from their routine duties to guard important people. A judicial inquiry has been ordered. It is imperative that the probe be completely impartial and transparent.
The Kumbh will continue till February 26, and there are several more auspicious days for the holy dip or Shahi Snan. Undeterred by the stampede, crores are still converging at the Sangam daily. Among them are the elderly, middle aged, young, children and even infants. It is to be hoped that the authorities will ensure an uneventful Kumbh in the remaining days so that the faithful can keep their date with divinity.
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