SC refuses to entertain plea on stampede, calls incident ‘unfortunate’

The Maha Kumbh is the greatest religious fair currently happening in Prayagraj that will create history in recording the Indian cultural calendar. The Supreme Court of India, not willing to entertain a PIL regarding action on authorities responsible for the stampede during the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, merely described the occurrence as “unfortunate” while advising the petitioner to move his writ petition directly before the Allahabad High Court. The incident took place on 29th January 2025, during the second Shahi Snan at the Sangam, where millions of devotees had gathered to take a holy dip during the Maha Kumbh festivities. The stampede resulted in the loss of 30 lives and injured over 60 people. The PIL filed in the Supreme Court sought directions to enhance safety measures for pilgrims, implement strict safety protocols, and take legal action against the negligent authorities. Swami Chidanand Saraswati, head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, expressed his condolences to the families who lost their near and dear ones and urged that each one must follow the safety instructions. He appreciated the decision by Akhara Parishad to allot priority to devotees in the holy dip and stressed the vigil of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the safety arrangements. The Uttar Pradesh government has provided heavy security at the Triveni Sangam, and police have paved the way for the akharas and saints for their Amrit Snan. According to the state government, 36.1 million devotees had taken the holy dip at Triveni by 10 am on January 29. This Maha Kumbh festival in the Hindu calendar is an event that draws millions of devotees from across the country. Maha Kumbh has taken place after 144 years and is once in a life time experience for the devotees and the one currently taking place in 2025 is expected to attract over 100 million people. However, kumbha festival occurs once every 12 years. The recent incident has already raised a great concern regarding safety and security measures at the festival, and there have been pleas to the authorities to take appropriate action in advance to avoid any such incidents. In a similar incident, at Hathras where a religious gathering of more than 100 people lost their lives in the stampede that took place during July 2024. The Supreme Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking a probe into the incident and instead the court asked the petitioner Advocate Vishal Tiwari to approach the High Court. “It is an unfortunate incident, something which is of concern, but move to Allahabad High court”, the Supreme Court directed. The incidence that occurred at the Maha Kumbh festival has revealed a dire need for upgraded safety measures and crowd control management in large congregations. The concerned authorities need to wake up now and think of ways to avoid such incidents happening again and ensure the safety and security of the devotees. True to life spoke to Snigdha Vishnoi, a sociology professor from Ambedkar University, Delhi, who expressed her condolences for the dead ones but he also pointed out the need of increased security and administrative measures that needs to be implemented to avoid such incidents and he also suggested that measures to control crowd should be in place well in advance as such big crowds are expected at huge cultural events and the incident is “a failure of the administrative efficiency of on the part of government “.