A second stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj occurred just hours after the first tragic crowd crush near the Sangam Nose on Wednesday. The second incident took place at Jhusi, approximately 2 km away from the initial site.
The India Today quoted official sources on Thursday and said that the total death toll of 30 includes fatalities from both locations.
Authorities Concealed Second Stampede to Prevent Panic
According to official sources, details of the second stampede were not immediately disclosed to prevent panic among the millions of devotees still present at the Kumbh Mela. Ensuring the safety of the attendees remained the top priority for the administration.
The media outlet also shared exclusive footage from the Jhusi site, showing piles of clothing, footwear, and bottles being cleared by tractors.
What happened at Jhusi
The second stampede in Jhusi, which lies across the Ganga from the Sangam site, unfolded around 5:55 am on Wednesday, mere hours after the first incident at 1:30 am. Witnesses described a chaotic scene where the sheer volume of devotees caused barricades to collapse.
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According to the India Today report, reporters were being asked not to shoot videos of the scene. It also claimed that police reached Jhusi at least four hours after the stampede.
Eyewitnesses Speak Out
Jhusi, located on the north bank of the Ganga, provides access to the Sangam—the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. This site was overwhelmed by the massive influx of devotees on Mauni Amavasya, an auspicious occasion for the second Shahi Snan.
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“The crowd was so massive that it was completely out of control. People started breaking through the barricades and pushing forward,” India Today quoted an eyewitness as saying. “Many devotees were already sleeping all around. The roads were blocked, and there was no space to walk. Amid the chaos, many people had their laptops and iPhones stolen,” he added.
“When the stampede occurred in Jhusi, there was no reporter present. The issue was never raised anywhere. People only came to know about the stampede at Sangam,” said another eyewitness.
