Maha Kumbh stampede: PIL in SC accuses UP govt of lapses, utter failure of administration

New Delhi: Following the death of 30 people and injuries to 60 others in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, a PIL on Thursday was filed in the Supreme Court, accusing the Uttar Pradesh government of “lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration”.

The plea filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari from Rajasthan's Bharatpur sought directions to all the state governments to ensure safety, security of people going to Kumbh from their respective states.

"There shall be directions to all the states to work collectively for the safe and secure visit of devotees at Maha Kumbh. All the states shall establish in proper manner their facilitation centres at Prayagraj the Maha Kumbh. These centres shall provide and display the basic information regarding the safety measures and guidelines to the persons coming from their states. In emergency these centres shall be ready for any Assistance," his PIL said.

During the holy bath on 'Mauni Amavasya' on the intervening night of January 28-29, as many as 30 reportedly died in a stampede which left 60 others injured.

The plea said, "The event of Kumbh is one of the biggest and leading religious event of our country. In 2025, it is organised in Uttar Pradesh and the entire nation is visiting in this holy event. Hence it becomes the collective responsibility of all states to ensure the safety and secure visit of its respective residents".

The PIL claimed whenever such incidents happened it is mostly the common and poor people who become victims.

"For the VIP's who visits any events or functions there are separate arrangements for them. Even the traffic movement of general public is halted for the passing of any official, politician or VIP movement," it contended.

The plea said that arrangements should also be made for announcements, display boards showing direction, roads in other languages so that people of different language and culture will not face problems and can get help easily in any kind of emergency situation.

"All the state governments shall also arrange Electronic mode messages to send the message SMS, WhatsApp message of basic guidelines and safety measures to be followed by the devotees, so that people may easily get information. All states governments in coordination with Uttar Pradesh Government shall also deploy its small medical team at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh comprising of doctors and nurses so that at the time of medical emergency there may not be shortage of medical staff," his PIL said.

The plea also stated that VIP movement should not effect or create danger to the common devotees safety and maximum space for entry and exit of devotees at Maha Kumbh should be provided.

It also sought a direction to Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report on the stampede incident that took place on January 29 and also direct to initiate legal action against the authorities and officials for their negligent conduct.

He said that the stampede depicted the poor conditions and fate of people due to the lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration purported by the government authorities.

"From 1954 Kumbh mela stampede accident to Maha kumbh 2025 stampede in Uttar Pradesh which took around 30 lives and left several injured, it is clear and visible to mention that nothing in the administration activity of our country has changed wherein such actions could have been avoided by showing reasonable duty of care, upfront repair and development activity," it said.

It contended there is absolute liability on the central and state government to put public interest at large and work in accordance to public welfare.

"Quite often there are reports of casualties occurring due to over crowd and lack of management by the administration and its municipal bodies thereby causing severe public casualties," the plea said.