GUWAHATI: Ten devotees travelling to the Maha Kumbh lost their lives in the early hours of Saturday, February 15, after their car collided with a bus on the Prayagraj-Mirzapur highway in Uttar Pradesh’s Meja area. Additionally, nineteen others were injured in the crash, as the vehicle’s devotees were from Chhattisgarh’s Korba district, while the bus was from Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district.
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The devotees were reportedly on their way to take a dip at the Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the matter and directed officials to expedite relief efforts while ensuring proper medical treatment for the injured.
This accident comes amid a series of unfortunate incidents linked to the Maha Kumbh. Earlier this week, seven pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh lost their lives, and two others sustained injuries after their mini-bus collided with a truck in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district while returning from the religious gathering.
One of the deadliest incidents at the ongoing Maha Kumbh had occurred on January 29, when a stampede before dawn claimed 30 lives at the Sangam area. This stampede reportedly broke out after large crowds jostled for space to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious bathing days. Some pilgrims allegedly broke barricades before the situation turned fatal.
The Maha Kumbh began on January 13 and is set to conclude on February 26.