1954 Prayag Kumbh Mela stampede

The 1954 Prayag Kumbh Mela stampede refers to a tragic incident that occurred during the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage at Prayagraj, India, on January 14, 1954. The Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu festival attracting millions of devotees, was marked by a sudden surge of pilgrims attempting to reach the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers for ritual bathing. A combination of dense crowds and inadequate crowd management led to a catastrophic stampede, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people, with estimates varying widely. The incident highlighted significant challenges in crowd control at large religious events and prompted discussions on safety measures for future gatherings.