Total mismanagement

It is because of complete mismanagement at Maha Kumbh that the stampede occurred at Allahabad Railway station in which more than 36 pilgrims were killed and dozen others injured. It is also because of the complete lack of anticipation about the number of pilgrims to board rail at Allahabad railway station by the rail authorities. The railway footbridge could not withstand the pressure of the huge crowd of pilgrims returning from Kumbh Mela to board the train at Allahabad railway station for their homes. The Maha Kumbh comes once after every 12 years and the crores of pilgrims from all over the nation and abroad are pouring in to take holy dip at Sangam in Allahabad at this year Kumbh Mela. Its preparations begin in advance for months and years. It is not a days development that the Central and state government could show their helplessness to manage the huge crowds. The mishap has occurred only due to the mismanagement of both state and central agencies entrusted to overseeing the Kumbh Mela preparations. According to news paper report, 36 pilgrims have lost their lives because of stampede at Allahabad station. There are two versions attributed to the cause of the mishap. The first is the collapse of the railway footbridge because of massive crowd and second is the lathi charge by GRP personnel to control the crowd because of the announcement by the rail authorities about the change of platform abruptly. Stampede also occurred in the morning at one of the sectors at Kumbh at the bank of the river Sangam- the confluence of the river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Both state and the Central governments have important role in managing the Maha Kumbh. Pilgrims from different corners of the nation visit Kumbh Mela to take a holy dip in Sangam to satisfy their religious obligation in pursuit of sacredness. And in return, they lose their lives for no fault of theirs. As is the practice, after this tragic happening, the Centre and the state governments promptly announced compensation package for the kith and kin of the deceased. It is the ritualistic practice of the government to announce the ex-gratia amount the moment any tragic incident takes place in which human lives are lost. Ex-gratia announcement made by government has no value in terms of human lives. Central and state government agencies appear to be responsible for the loss of lives. There must be a thorough probe into the stampede and whoever is found guilty of neglecting duty that led to this tragic incident must be punished stringently so that it would have deterring impact on others and then there would be no recurrence of this tragic incident anywhere in the country. After the announcement of ex-gratia amount, they forget the tragic incident. This is not the first time that this type of stampede has taken place and human lives have been lost. After every major mishap of this nature in which government deficiency comes to the fore, blame game between the Centre and state government starts if the two different parties are ruling at two different places.