According to official figures, 50 people died and more than 300 were injured in both stampedes.
Editorial: Devotees' devotion and zeal cannot be blocked by any obstacles. It's not easy to calm the tide of faith. Two stampedes in three weeks. According to official figures, 50 people died and more than 300 were injured in both stampedes. One stampede at the Mahakumbh site in Prayagraj; the other at the New Delhi station where devotees were gathering to attend the Mahakumbh. This aspect of the Mahakumbh picture is not a happy one.
The investigation report of the first stampede has not even been officially published yet, while the investigation of the second one has only just begun. In the initial investigation of the first tragedy, the blame for the stampede was basically attributed to the mob mentality of the devotees; similar indications are being given officially about the second tragedy.
It is clear that the foundation has been laid for the decision to acquit the governments. It is being indicated that when devotees are arriving in droves for a ‘holy festival’, it becomes impossible to stop the arbitrariness or the push-and-pull.
‘No obstacle is effective in front of the enthusiasm and enthusiasm of the devotees. It is not easy to stop the flood of devotion.’ Such official statements are like ignoring the importance of responsibility. Such an official attitude has been proven to be the main basis for the lack of arrangements to control the crowds.
The above-mentioned official attitude was one of the important reasons for the stampede at the New Delhi railway station on Saturday evening. The platforms of the three trains going to Prayagraj are filling up rapidly. People were not getting a place to stand. The coaches of the three trains had also been crushed. Despite such circumstances, neither the senior railway officials considered it appropriate to reach the station and take stock of the situation nor did they consider it necessary to take immediate steps to control the crowds.
Even on normal days, the New Delhi Railway Station is one of the most crowded stations in the country. It is common for every train to get into a jostling situation on the steps of its foot overbridges. The number of escalators (mechanical stairs) required to go from one platform to another is very limited. There are also very few lifts. In such a situation, elderly, obese or disabled passengers have to face a lot of difficulties. Something similar happened on Saturday evening.
The fall of a heavy-bodied woman due to the pushing and shoving on the stairs caused a stampede and in a few moments a part of the platform turned into a mass of crushed bodies. It is also being said that the announcement of a special train for Prayagraj from platform number 12 gave rise to the stampede.
Those who could not get a seat in the three trains, in their haste to board the fourth, trampled the fallen ones. It is also reported that 2600 more tickets than the capacity of the three trains going to Prayagraj were sold at the New Delhi Railway Station, without considering where so many passengers would be accommodated.
It is obvious that the government circles have not learnt any lesson from the stampede three weeks ago. If the lesson had been learned, emergency arrangements would have been made immediately after seeing the immense crowd at the railway station. The rules of the National Disaster Management Authority in this regard are very clear. But the sincerity towards following those rules was not visible on Saturday evening. After the stampede in Prayagraj, this newspaper had written in an editorial that all religions give a message of patience, restraint and seriousness, but instead of implementing this message during religious ceremonies, haste or commotion becomes the nature of the devotees.
Paying attention to such possibilities should be the first priority of the management of every religious festival or ceremony. The Central and U.P. Governments have promoted the Mahakumbh as an international festival instead of a national one. Along with this, the impression was created that every countryman should definitely attend this great festival.
But have arrangements been made on that scale? The two stampede incidents, the horrific road accidents that occur daily on the highways leading to Prayagraj and the daily figures of deaths of pilgrims due to lack of timely medical assistance show that the politics of winning votes by promoting religious sentiments is taking a toll on human lives. This kind of disregard for the safety of human lives is tarnishing the attendance figures of the Mahakumbh, not brightening them.
