Yogi Adityanath Blames Opposition for Alleged Conspiracy During Kumbh Stampede, Highlights Safety Measures

CM Says Government Ensured Immediate Care; Denies Suppression of Death Toll​

Lucknow, April 1 — Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has strongly criticized the Opposition, accusing them of hoping for a repeat of the deadly stampedes that marked earlier Kumbh melas. Reflecting on the January 29 stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which left 30 dead and over 60 injured, Adityanath asserted that his administration’s swift response and public cooperation were crucial in minimizing casualties.

In a recent interview, Adityanath recalled visiting hospitals and interacting with survivors. According to him, many victims exonerated the government, saying, “We were rushing for the holy dip... police tried stopping us, but we were desperate to bathe at the ghats by 4 AM.” Survivors reportedly asked authorities not to take action against anyone, acknowledging the chaos stemmed from crowd enthusiasm rather than administrative lapses.

"Opposition Wanted a Repeat of Past Tragedies": CM​

Refuting allegations that the state government had suppressed the actual death toll, Adityanath drew comparisons with previous tragedies. “They wanted a repeat of hundreds of deaths in past Kumbh tragedies. Remember 1954 when 1,000 died? Or the 1974 stampede? But this time, our systems and public support helped safely hospitalise everyone,” he said.

He criticized past administrations for poor planning, citing the 2013 Kumbh held under the Samajwadi Party’s rule: “No permanent ghats or corridors were built then. This time, we ensured cleanliness, security, and digital tracking.”

66 Crore Devotees, Tech-Driven Management​

The 45-day-long Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj witnessed an estimated 66 crore pilgrims, with nearly 15 crore devotees converging on Mauni Amavasya alone. The deadly stampede on January 29 occurred when a massive crowd broke barricades in a rush for the early morning holy dip.

Adityanath credited the success of the overall event to a blend of AI-based surveillance, tech-enabled crowd management, and the discipline of the general public. “Every good task has challenges, but we turned them into solutions,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister’s comments mark a sharp counterattack on the Opposition, positioning his government’s crisis management and infrastructural improvements as a benchmark for future religious events of such scale.