Early on Wednesday, a predawn stampede in the Maha Kumbh's Sangam neighbourhood killed thirty people and injured sixty more. On the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar, millions of pilgrims fought for space to take a sacred bath, causing the stampede.

Witnesses reported that the stampede was triggered when pilgrims attempted to break through barricades to join a procession of holy men, leading to a deadly crush. The sudden surge left many with no chance for escape, resulting in suffocation and trampling.

Despite extensive preparations, including the installation of tents, toilets, bridges, and streetlights, as well as security measures like 1,600 CCTV cameras, crowd management proved challenging. The sheer number of attendees overwhelmed the infrastructure, leading to fatal outcomes.

In response to the tragedy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial inquiry and compensation for the victims' families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating, "Deeply pained by the loss of lives at the Kumbh Mela stampede. My thoughts are with the bereaved families."

A three-member judicial commission consisting of retired IAS VK Singh, former DG VK Gupta, and Justice Harsh Kumar was established by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to look into what caused the stampede. Additionally, he announced that each of the relatives of the deceased would receive ₹25 lakh in ex gratia payments.A clearly moved Adityanath stated, "It is necessary to get to the bottom of how such a tragedy transpired," and that the chief secretary and DGP would attend the Maha Kumbh on Thursday to conduct a thorough investigation into the unfortunate event.