Frenzy to reach Sangam nose leads to stampede

NARROW POINT BELIEVED TO HOLD SIGNIFICANCE FOR 2ND AMRIT SNAN • LIMITED AREA RESERVED FOR SEERS OF THE AKHARAS

- NAMITA BAJPAI @ Lucknow

MASSIVE crowds eagerly pushed towards the "nose" of the Sangam in the wee hours of Mauni Amavasya on the intervening night of January 28-29. That caused a stampede that claimed at least 30 lives and injured 90 at the last count. The narrow point of the Sangam is believed to hold significance for the second Amrit Snan. That limited area is reserved for the seers of the Akharas, but the crowd was anxious to take the dip at that exact spot.

The devotees jostled through the carved-out corridor, especially for Akhara processions secured by barricades. The cordon broke. The situation went out of hand. People fell along the route, inadvertently trampled by those behind. Suddenly, the mela premises, throbbing with spiritual energy till then, filled with screams, tears and cries for help. Devotees ran helter-skelter, unmindful of safety, looking for their dear ones.