Prayagraj: 10 Kumbh Pilgrims Dead in Crash

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Ten devotees en route to Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj died in a road accident. All the deceased were from Chhattisgarh’s Korba district. Their car collided with a bus carrying pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh. The accident occurred on the Mirzapur-Prayagraj highway. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the incident.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

At least 10 devotees on their way to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj were killed in a tragic road accident. According to police, all the deceased were residents of Korba district in Chhattisgarh. Their Bolero car collided with a bus on the Mirzapur-Prayagraj highway. The accident also left 19 others injured. The Prayagraj accident has cast a shadow of sorrow over the ongoing Kumbh Mela.

The collision occurred around midnight. The devotees in the car were heading to the Kumbh Mela for a holy dip at the Sangam. The bus was carrying pilgrims from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh. Prayagraj Additional Superintendent of Police, Vivek Chandra Yadav, stated that the bodies of the deceased have been taken to Swaroop Rani Medical Hospital for post-mortem examination and further investigation is underway.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the road accident in Prayagraj and directed officials to reach the spot immediately and expedite relief operations. The Chief Minister also instructed authorities to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured. The state government has announced compensation for the families of the deceased.

Tragically, this is not the first instance of such accidents involving Maha Kumbh pilgrims. On Tuesday, seven people from Andhra Pradesh, returning from the Maha Kumbh, died when their tempo traveler collided with a truck on a highway in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh. On Monday, a couple from Agra died and four others were injured when their car collided with a truck while returning from the Kumbh. Police have seized the truck and detained the driver. Increased safety measures are being called for.

The Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest spiritual gathering, commenced on January 13 and will continue until February 26, the day Maha Shivaratri will be observed. According to the Uttar Pradesh government, over 92 lakh devotees had taken a dip till 6 pm on Friday alone, pushing the overall footfall at Maha Kumbh past 50 crore (until Friday). This latest accident serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with large-scale pilgrimages.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

10 pilgrims died in Prayagraj on their way to Kumbh Mela. The deceased were from Chhattisgarh. CM Yogi Adityanath expressed grief and ordered relief efforts. This is not the first accident involving Kumbh pilgrims.

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