Mahakumbh 2025: What Exactly Happened At The Stampede Spot At Sangam Nose During Mauni Amavasya?

Mahakumbh 2025:When Chants Turned Into Shrieks And Chaos

Prayagraj resident Praveen Mishra had embarked on a spiritual journey to Mahakumbh 2025 with his 60-year-old mother, Shakuntala Mishra, to take the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya. What was supposed to be a sacred moment turned into an ordeal as a stampede broke out at Sangam Nose, leaving behind scenes of devastation and chaos.

“Everything was peaceful until 1 am, but as the Mauni Amavasya Mahurat approached, the crowd at Sangam Nose started swelling rapidly. Many devotees were waiting for the auspicious time to bathe, while others who had already taken the dip were trying to leave. With only one entry and exit point, the situation soon spiralled,” said Praveen, recalling the moment before the tragedy.

As more and more devotees pushed each other to reach the holy river, those who had completed their ritual found themselves trapped. “The lack of an alternate exit led to utter confusion as thousands of pilgrims came face to face, unable to move forward or retreat. It felt like we were locked in a sea of people. Panic set in when devotees couldn’t find a way out and soon chants and cheers turned into shrieks and chaos,” said Praveen who were among a few who survived the stampede.

Mahakumbh 2025:A Woman Got Trampled

In the midst of the chaos, some pilgrims attempted to climb over the barricades in desperation. “That’s when the real disaster struck,” Praveen recalled. “People started pushing, and suddenly, there was a wave of force that knocked many to the ground. My mother held my hand tightly, but we were barely able to stay on our feet.”

His mother, Shakuntala Mishra, still shaken by the experience, added, “I saw women and elderly people falling, getting crushed under the weight of the crowd. We were lucky to survive, but many were not.”

Mahakumbh 2025:State Of Confusion, Another Reason Behind The Stampede

Another devotee, Snehlata Shukla from Gwalior, arrived at Mahakumbh with five family members, eager to take the dip on Mauni Amavasya. But her spiritual experience turned into a nightmare due to the confusion and mismanagement at Sangam Nose.

“Around 1:30 am, the situation spiralled out of control. Sangam Nose was completely packed, and nobody knew what to do. The area was so vast that finding an entry or exit point became impossible,” Snehlata recalled. The heavy luggage many pilgrims carried on their heads further obstructed visibility, adding to the chaos.

She said the lack of proper signage and announcements played a critical role in worsening the situation. “There were no boards or hoardings to guide devotees, nor were there any announcements directing people to exits. Everyone was just moving blindly, pushing and shoving in panic.”

Amidst the mayhem, Snehlata got separated from three of her family members, who are still missing. “I don’t know where they are or if they’re even safe. We came for devotion, but now we’re just searching for our loved ones,” she said, her voice trembling with fear.

Mahakumbh 2025:An Appeal

“Coming to Sangam Nose is not essential; there are 150 to 200 ghats available for bathing. The pressure on Sangam is extremely high,” said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while making an appeal to not to rush to Sangam Nose.

While addressing the media after the tragedy, he said discussions were held with the Akhara Parishad and saints, who suggested allowing devotees to complete their holy dip first.

Highlighting the overwhelming rush at the Sangam, Yogi Adityanath urged devotees to use alternative ghats for the sacred bath, while he acknowledged the immense crowd pressure, particularly at Sangam Nose, Akhara Marg, and Nag Vasuki Marg, and appealed to people not to believe any rumour.

The chief minister assured that proper arrangements had been made for those injured in the stampede. By 8.30 am, approximately 3.5 crore devotees had already taken the holy dip. He also mentioned that holding areas had been set up to manage the crowd effectively and appealed to people to cooperate with the administration in maintaining order.

Mahakumbh 2025:What is Sangam Nose?

Sangam Nose is considered to be the most sacred point to take a dip at Mahakumbh. To ensure a comfortable experience for devotees at Sangam Nose during the Mahakumbh, the Uttar Pradesh government undertook extensive expansion and restoration efforts. Recognizing the impact of river erosion over the past six years, authorities successfully reclaimed over 2.60 lakh square meters of land, significantly increasing the available bathing space.

The expansion has created a triangular bathing zone, resembling a nose due to which it is called ‘Sangam Nose’, accessible from three sides, allowing up to 2 lakh devotees to take a dip every hour. This is a major improvement from the previous capacity of 50,000 devotees per hour during Kumbh 2019. Additionally, a total of 26 hectares was reclaimed from Shastri Bridge to Sangam Nose, ensuring smoother crowd movement and better access to the sacred confluence.

To further enhance the experience, the authorities reinforced embankments to prevent overcrowding and established designated entry and exit points to regulate the flow of pilgrims and to ensure hassle-free experience for millions of pilgrims attending the Mahakumbh.

On Mauni Amavasya, an estimated 5 crore devotees are expected in the city, with 8 to 10 crore are estimated to take the holy dip at 44 ghats by late night. The day before, over 5 crore pilgrims had already taken the dip in the Sangam. Over 60,000 security personnel are deployed across the city for safety.

After the stampede at the Sangam in the wee hours, all 13 akharas had cancelled the holy dip (amrit snan) scheduled for the silent new moon day upon the administration’s request. Subsequently, a decision was made in a meeting that the Amrit Snan would resume after 10 am.

CM Yogi Adityanath briefed Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone about the situation. Officials are now monitoring the Kumbhmela from helicopters. More than 70 ambulances rushed to the scene, transporting the injured and deceased to hospitals. NSG commandos took charge of security following the incident, with public access to the Sangam area restricted. In Prayagraj city, restrictions were imposed on pilgrims to prevent further crowding, extending into neighboring districts.

After the incident at the Kumbh Mela, Yogi Adityanath called an emergency meeting at his residence, attended by senior police and administrative officials. Discussions included strategies to manage crowds in Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Ayodhya.