10 killed after car carrying Maha Kumbh devotees collides with bus in Prayagraj

A tragic road accident claimed the lives of 10 devotees traveling to the Maha Kumbh after their car collided with a bus on the Prayagraj-Mirzapur highway in the Meja area on Feb 15 morning. At least 19 others were injured in the crash.

The devotees, from Chhattisgarh’s Korba district, were en route to take a holy dip at the Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. Their vehicle collided with a bus coming from Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the situation, directing officials to expedite relief efforts and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.

Second major accident during Maha Kumbh

This is the second major accident involving Maha Kumbh pilgrims this week. Earlier, on Feb 12, seven Andhra Pradesh pilgrims returning from the event were killed in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district when their mini-bus collided with a truck, leaving two others injured.

The most devastating incident occurred on Jan 29, when a stampede at the Maha Kumbh venue resulted in 30 deaths and 60 injuries. The chaos erupted just before dawn on Mauni Amavasya, one of the holiest days of the event, as pilgrims rushed to the Sangam for a dip, leading to a collapse of barricades.

The Maha Kumbh, which began on Jan 13, is set to conclude on Feb 26. Despite heightened security, the event has witnessed multiple tragedies, raising concerns over crowd management and safety measures.