Tragic incident: Seven Mahakumbh pilgrims killed in MP accident
A tragic accident involving Mahakumbh pilgrims near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, has left seven dead and several injured, as the government initiates an inquiry.
Madhya Pradesh: A horrific road accident claimed the lives of at least seven pilgrims returning from the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. The victims, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, died when their tempo traveller collided with a truck on National Highway 30 near Sihora in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fatal crash.
A Devastating incident
In a heart-wrenching incident aprroximately at 8:40 am seven pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh tragically lost their lives when their tempo traveller collided with a truck on National Highway 30, near Sihora in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The victims were returning after taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj during the ongoing Mahakumbh.
#JabalpurBusAccident :
— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) February 11, 2025
Tragic, Seven pilgrims returning from the #MahaKumbh2025 , #Prayagraj to #AndhraPradesh were killed in #BusAccident , their mini-bus was collided with a truck, coming from wrong side, on bridge near #Sihora in #Jabalpur district, #MadhyaPradesh on Tuesday… pic.twitter.com/Wz0D2JfInO
The Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, is a significant pilgrimage site, drawing millions of devotees. The Mahakumbh, which started on January 13, is the largest religious congregation in the world, attracting people from all over the country. As of February 9, over 44 crore pilgrims had taken the holy dip, with over 1 crore participating on February 7th first week.
Accident scene and immediate response
Upon hearing of the tragedy, Jabalpur's District Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) rushed to the scene to assess the situation. Their presence highlighted the seriousness with which the incident was being handled. While the authorities are focusing on providing aid to the injured, the government has already initiated an inquiry to understand the root causes of the accident. This incident is not the first fatal accident linked to the Mahakumbh pilgrims. In the morning of February 11th , two separate accidents occurred involving Mahakumbh returnees A couple from Agra died, and four others were injured after their car collided with a truck on National Highway 2. In Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, a man from Rourkela, Odisha, was killed and six others injured when their car collided with a bus.
The Mahakumbh’s growing footprint
The Mahakumbh 2025, which concludes on February 26 with Maha Shivaratri, has witnessed a record number of pilgrims. As of now, the number of devotees visiting Prayagraj has crossed the 44 crore mark, underscoring the scale of the event. Authorities and local law enforcement continue to monitor the situation, ensuring the safety of millions who have come to participate in the sacred rituals.
