Jaya Bachchan alleges contaminated water at Maha Kumbh, blames UP govt for 'negligence'
PTC Web Desk: Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan has alleged that the water at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj is contaminated due to bodies being dumped into the river following last month's tragic stampede. She criticised the Yogi Adityanath-led government for failing to make proper arrangements for pilgrims and accused officials of hiding the actual death toll.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on Monday, Jaya Bachchan stated, "The most contaminated water right now is at Kumbh. Bodies of those who died in the stampede have been thrown into the river, polluting the water. The government is failing to address real issues. There are no special arrangements for the common people visiting Kumbh."
The veteran actor-politician also claimed that no postmortems were conducted on the bodies and that the entire incident was being whitewashed. The stampede, which occurred on January 29 at around 1.30 am, led to the deaths of at least 30 persons and injured over 60. However, the official confirmation came 18 hours later, leading to widespread criticism from opposition parties.
Jaya Bachchan also questioned the government’s tall claims about footfall at the religious event, saying, "They are giving speeches about water and Jal Shakti, yet they are lying about crores of people visiting. How can such a large crowd be present at once?"
Her remarks come amid increasing political tension, with opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accusing the Uttar Pradesh government of hiding the true scale of the tragedy. They have demanded a discussion on the issue in Parliament.
The tragic stampede took place at the Sangam Nose, a sacred site at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The chaos unfolded as a massive crowd of devotees attempted to take a dip on Mauni Amavasya, considered one of the holiest days of the Kumbh Mela.
According to police reports, the tragedy occurred when devotees broke through barricades, leading to a deadly crush. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member judicial commission to investigate the incident. The panel, which visited the site on January 31, has been given a month to submit its findings.
The Maha Kumbh, held once every 12 years, began on January 13 and will continue until February 26. With an estimated 40 crore pilgrims expected to attend, the event is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. However, concerns over safety, overcrowding, and mismanagement continue to cast a shadow over the grand spectacle.
- With inputs from agencies
