The Supreme Court on Monday said that the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj was an "unfortunate incident" but refused to entertain a PIL seeking directions to put in place safety measures and guidelines for pilgrims from across the country.
BJP MP and former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma criticized Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, asserting that the Samajwadi Party opportunistically waits for incidents to exploit them for political gain.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Monday demanded a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the Maha Kumbh tragedy, stating that the opposition will persist in its demand as it was not allowed earlier.
As of February 2, over 349.7 million (34.97 crore) devotees have participated in the sacred bathing ritual since the commencement of the Maha Kumbh Mela on January 13, according to the Uttar Pradesh Information Department.
Maurya said that while everyone is saddened by the incident, the SP supremo's continuous political comments on the Maha Kumbh suggested that his "mental balance has deteriorated" after losing power.
A massive influx of devotees was witnessed at Prayagraj junction as the city gears up to host the sacred Amrit Snan on February 3, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami.
The combination of music and mantra recitation created a divine atmosphere. Famous musicians like Sandeep Mishra, Amit Mishra, Narayan Jyoti, Yaron Pe'er, and Maya Baitner gave their performances during the event.
Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel deployed at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj rescued a youth from drowning in the Yamuna River near the Sangam late on Sunday.
The lead singer of Coldplay band, Christ Martin, along with his girlfriend and actress Dakota Johnson, took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Saturday.