Lucknow, Jan 29 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday termed the deaths of devotees in stampede during Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj as unfortunate and heart-wrenching and announced that a judicial inquiry will be conducted to probe the incident.
While talking to reporters, the CM also announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to the kin of the devotees killed in the incident and said a separate inquiry will also be conducted for a threadbare probe to prevent such incidents.
He said, “It is an unfortunate incident which took place on the Akhara Marg on Sangam bank, in which more than 90 devotees were injured. The incident took place as the devotees broke the barricading. Around 30 people were killed in the sad incident and 36 are being treated. Rest of the injured have been taken by their family members.”
Yogi said that it is a sad and heart-wrenching incident and the government’s sympathies are with the bereaved families.
“The government is in touch with the local administration since night. The administration, police, NDRF and SDRF made all the arrangements as a result a green corridor was set up and took the injured to the hospital,” he said.
He said that all the arrangements for the injured have been made. “There is acute pressure due to which all the routes were choked,” he said.
The CM said that to investigate the incident, a three-member judicial inquiry headed by former judge Harsh Kumar, which includes former DG V K Gupta and retired IAS D K Singh, is being constituted, which will submit its report in a time-bound manner.
“Apart from this, the government will get the police to investigate the causes of the accident separately. The government will give financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to each deceased dependent,” he said.
Emotional Yogi said that the administration knew that more than eight crore devotees would reach Maha Kumbh and all the arrangements were also made for this, but before the Brahma Muhurta, between 1 and 2 a.m. in the night, the devotees crossed the barricades, came to the other side and trampled the people who were already waiting for bathing there.
He said that after the accident, on the request of the government, the Akharas had postponed their pre-scheduled Amrit Snan, which started in the afternoon.
“Revered Shankaracharya, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar and Pujya Sadhus and Saints took part in the Amrit Snan,” he said.
The CM said that after the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Railway Minister, besides many Union Ministers maintained coordination and their guidance helped in handling the situation.
He said, “Indian Railways operated more than 300 special trains on the main bathing festival of Maha Kumbh. There were also adequate arrangements for buses. After the accident, the buses were stopped at the Prayagraj border, from which instructions were given to leave for Prayagraj after Amrit Snan late in the evening.”
He said that this was the first time when such a large number of devotees had reached Maha Kumbh Nagar.
“The Chief Secretary and the DGP will visit Prayagraj so that arrangements could be strengthened further. Besides, senior officers were deployed, who were continuously monitoring the situation after the incident,” he said.
Yogi said that continuous monitoring was done by the CM control room throughout the day on the events after the incident.
“Several rounds of meetings were held at the government level in this regard,” he added.