Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has strongly condemned the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which has reportedly claimed 15 lives.
He criticized those who falsely touted a “world-class system” at the event, demanding they take moral responsibility for the tragedy and resign from their positions. Yadav also called for the Indian Army to take over the management of the Maha Kumbh Mela, citing a loss of faith in the Uttar Pradesh government’s handling of the event.
“Now that the reality behind the ‘world-class system’ claims has been exposed, those responsible for such false propaganda should accept moral responsibility for the lives lost and step down,” he stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
To restore faith among devotees and the saint community, Yadav insisted that the Army should immediately take charge of the Maha Kumbh’s administration instead of the Uttar Pradesh government.
“In order to rebuild trust in the system, the management of the Maha Kumbh must be handed over to the Army at the earliest,” added the Lok Sabha MP from Kannauj.
Earlier, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister urged the state government to take swift action to assist the injured and prevent further chaos.
He suggested deploying air ambulances for critical patients and called for the prompt identification and return of the deceased to their families. Additionally, Yadav emphasized the need for heightened security measures, including aerial surveillance via helicopters, to maintain order at the event. The stampede occurred as thousands gathered for a holy dip in the Ganga on Mauni Amavasya, one of the Maha Kumbh’s most auspicious days.
A massive crowd had assembled at the site, and ambulances rushed in to transport the injured to a central hospital within the Mela grounds. According to sources familiar with the situation, at least 15 bodies had been brought to the hospital.
