Maha Kumbh stampede: Akhilesh, Mayawati lament loss of lives

Expressing grave concern on news of casualties at the Maha Kumbh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said, “The news of casualties of devotees in an accident caused by mismanagement at Maha Kumbh is extremely sad.

“We appeal to our government that the seriously injured should be taken to the nearest best hospitals with the help of air ambulance and immediate medical treatment should be provided. Arrangements should be made to identify the bodies of the deceased and hand them over to their relatives and send them to their place of residence. Urgent efforts should be made to reunite those who have been separated. Surveillance should be increased by making good use of helicopters. Keeping the unbroken tradition of ‘Royal Bath’ going on since the Satya Yuga, arrangements should be made to conduct the ‘Royal Bath of Mauni Amavasya’ amidst safe management parallel to relief work.”

Yadav also appealed to the devotees to exercise restraint and patience in this difficult time and complete their pilgrimage peacefully. “The government should learn a lesson from today’s incident and make additional arrangements for the stay, accommodation, food, water and other facilities of the devotees,” he said.

BSP chief Mayawati also said the news of devotees losing lives and getting injured in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh at the Sangam site in in UP’s Prayagraj is extremely sad and worrisome.