In the wake of the recent stampede at the Mahakumbh
in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking
directions to put in place safety measures and guidelines for pilgrims from
across the country.
The petition sought the direction that VIP movement
shall not affect or create a danger to the common devotees' safety and maximum
space for entry and exit of devotees at Mahakumbh shall be provided.
The PIL filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari said he
mentioned the matter for early hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice
of India Sanjeev Khanna, who asked him to file an application before the court
Registry.
The petition also sought direction from the Uttar
Pradesh government to submit a status report on the Mahakumbh 2025 stampede
incident that took place on January 29 and also directed to initiate legal
action against the persons, authorities and officials for their negligent
conduct.
"Direct the state of Uttar Pradesh to submit a
status report on Mahakumbh 2025 stampede incident that took place on January
29, 2025 and also direct to initiate legal action against the persons,
authorities and officials for their negligent conduct," stated the plea.
The petition said that the stampede depicts the
drastic condition and fate of people due to the lapses, negligence and utter
failure of administration purported by the government authorities.
At least 30 people died and over 60 were injured in
the stampede that broke out in the Sangam area of Mahakumbh in the early
morning of January 29.
It also sought directions to all states to their
facilitation centres at Prayagraj to provide basic information regarding the
safety measures and guidelines to the pilgrims.
There should be arrangements to have announcements,
display boards showing directions, roads etc. in other languages so that people
from other states do not face problems and can get help easily, it said.
"All the state governments shall also arrange
electronic mode messages to send the message SMS, WhatsApp message of basic
guidelines and safety measures to be followed by the devotees, so that easily
people may get information. All states governments with coordination of Uttar
Pradesh government shall also deploy its small medical team at Prayagraj
Mahakumbh comprising of doctors and nurses so that at the time of medical
emergency there may not be shortage of medical staff," the plea added.