<p class="bodytext">The stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj which killed at least 30 people and injured many others has cast a shadow on the much publicised event and posed serious questions to its organisers about the preparedness. The state government had claimed that the most exhaustive and fool-proof arrangements had been made for the pilgrims, and CCTV cameras, aerial surveillance, Artificial Intelligence and other arrangements had been made to accommodate the crowd, control traffic and regulate movements. Millions of people congregated for the event and the stampede happened on an important day of the Shahi Snan. There was an obvious failure in the arrangements. Though the handling of the crowds was commendable on the other days, it failed when it came under maximum pressure.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A stampede was an obvious possibility at such a gathering. The 2013 Kumbh Mela had seen a stampede in which at least 42 people died. Maximum vigil had to be kept 24 hours of all the days of the Kumbh, especially on its most important days. There is criticism that security and other arrangements were heavily oriented towards VIP service. Top leaders have visited the event and more ceremonial dips are expected. The entire Kumbh Mela was politicised and even commercialised. While governments routinely have done this, they also have the responsibility to ensure a safe passage and dip in the river for all pilgrims. It is wrong to describe a stampede as a natural happening at such a big event or to call criticism of the failure to prevent it as politicisation of the deaths.</p>.I saw my sister dying, no one helped, says Maha Kumbh stampede survivor.<p class="bodytext">One major lapse of the government was the failure to give timely information about the disaster and the death toll. The government and the police were in denial and even the word stampede was not used. There was even an all-round attempt to underplay the incident. The withholding of information seemed to be deliberate and it was only by evening that the government put out the death toll as 30. This has cast doubts about the authenticity of the claim. In all such situations, transparency is of paramount importance. Large numbers of pilgrims and their relatives elsewhere wanted information which was not available. The UP government has appointed a judicial commission to find out the causes of the stampede. Even a free and fair police investigation can unravel the causes, if it is done efficiently. Those who are responsible for it should be held accountable. Even after two days, there is no information about action taken against any official in connection with the tragedy. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who took credit for the holding of the event, cannot avoid responsibility for what went wrong.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj which killed at least 30 people and injured many others has cast a shadow on the much publicised event and posed serious questions to its organisers about the preparedness. The state government had claimed that the most exhaustive and fool-proof arrangements had been made for the pilgrims, and CCTV cameras, aerial surveillance, Artificial Intelligence and other arrangements had been made to accommodate the crowd, control traffic and regulate movements. Millions of people congregated for the event and the stampede happened on an important day of the Shahi Snan. There was an obvious failure in the arrangements. Though the handling of the crowds was commendable on the other days, it failed when it came under maximum pressure.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A stampede was an obvious possibility at such a gathering. The 2013 Kumbh Mela had seen a stampede in which at least 42 people died. Maximum vigil had to be kept 24 hours of all the days of the Kumbh, especially on its most important days. There is criticism that security and other arrangements were heavily oriented towards VIP service. Top leaders have visited the event and more ceremonial dips are expected. The entire Kumbh Mela was politicised and even commercialised. While governments routinely have done this, they also have the responsibility to ensure a safe passage and dip in the river for all pilgrims. It is wrong to describe a stampede as a natural happening at such a big event or to call criticism of the failure to prevent it as politicisation of the deaths.</p>.I saw my sister dying, no one helped, says Maha Kumbh stampede survivor.<p class="bodytext">One major lapse of the government was the failure to give timely information about the disaster and the death toll. The government and the police were in denial and even the word stampede was not used. There was even an all-round attempt to underplay the incident. The withholding of information seemed to be deliberate and it was only by evening that the government put out the death toll as 30. This has cast doubts about the authenticity of the claim. In all such situations, transparency is of paramount importance. Large numbers of pilgrims and their relatives elsewhere wanted information which was not available. The UP government has appointed a judicial commission to find out the causes of the stampede. Even a free and fair police investigation can unravel the causes, if it is done efficiently. Those who are responsible for it should be held accountable. Even after two days, there is no information about action taken against any official in connection with the tragedy. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who took credit for the holding of the event, cannot avoid responsibility for what went wrong.</p>
