Islamic body Jamaat-e-Islami Hind demanded the Central and state governments take responsibility for the stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela that killed dozens of devotees in the early hours of Wednesday.
It also called for immediate mitigation of irregularities in the arrangements at the Maha Kumbh Mela, saying the lives of common devotees also deserve VIP-like security.
“The stampede at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj is tragic, in which many innocent devotees lost their lives. In this hour of grief, my heartfelt condolences are with the bereaved families,” said Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Vice President Salim Engineer.
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“We stand in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones and pray for patience and strength in this time of grief,” he said.
The Islamic body said in its statement that this unfortunate incident serves as a lesson to emphasise the urgent need for careful planning and crowd management when there is a gathering of people at a place.
It stressed that the safety and health of the pilgrims should be given the top priority adding that uninterrupted arrangements should be ensured for common devotees.
Engineer also said that common devotees were facing problems because of VIP movement and demanded the administration handling the arrangements of the Mela to “not abandon the basic responsibility of giving priority to the safety of common devotees instead of special services for VIPs.”
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“The lives of ordinary devotees also deserve the same care and protection as VIP guests,” he said.
At least 30 people were killed while 60 were injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of Prayagraj as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a dip on the occasion of one of the most auspicious days of Mauni Amavasya.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh for the next of kin of those killed in the tragedy. He also formed a three-member committee to probe the mishap and instructed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to reach Prayagraj.
Among 30 killed, 25 deceased victims were identified with four hailing from Karnataka, and one each from Assam, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.
