Prayagraj: Several devotees injured and some devotees died due to the stampede on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya at Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Wednesday early morning.

The incident occurred as thousands of pilgrims gathered at the Sangam to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The stampede was triggered when barricades collapsed due to the overwhelming crowd. Several others sustained serious injuries in the incident.

The bodies of the deceased and the injured have been transported to Swaroop Rani Hospital. Among the victims are several women. Emergency services responded swiftly, with nearly 70 ambulances arriving at the scene shortly after the incident.

Devotees rushed to take Amrit Snan a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya which caused to the stampede in Prayagraj. Amid a surge in crowd about a kilometre away from the Sangam, barricades broke leading some women to faint. As the unconscious women fell, the stampede-like situation began. They were then rushed to a hospital within the Maha Kumbh fair grounds. Further, some seriously injured women were sent to Bailey Hospital and Swaroop Rani Medical College for treatment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoke to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the incident and sought details about the stampede. In light of the tragedy, 13 Akharas have decided to cancel the Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan.

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri said that seers have called off their Mauni Amavasya’s Amrit Snan.  He stated that the decision was made due to the massive crowds at the Sangam.