Justice Denied: SDPI Blasts UP Government’s Kumbh Mela Death Toll Cover-Up

P Abdul Majeed Faizy, National General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of India vehemently condemns the Uttar Pradesh government’s egregious attempt to underreport the death toll of the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. The government’s claim of 37 fatalities stands in stark contrast to the meticulously documented evidence of at least 82 deaths, as uncovered by BBC Hindi’s courageous investigation. This deliberate suppression of the truth is not only an affront to the victims and their grieving families but also a betrayal of the principles of transparency and accountability that underpin our democracy.

The SDPI is deeply appalled by the Uttar Pradesh government’s opaque and discriminatory compensation practices. While 36 families received ₹25 lakh through formal channels, 26 others were quietly handed ₹5 lakh in cash by police authorities, with their loved ones’ deaths conspicuously absent from official records. Even more distressing, 19 families who lost loved ones have been denied any compensation or recognition, left to grieve without justice or support. These actions point to a calculated effort to conceal the true scale of the tragedy, undermining the dignity of the victims and eroding public trust in the state’s administration.

The Uttar Pradesh government’s claim of robust preparations, backed by a ₹7,500 crore budget, rings hollow in the face of systemic failures in crowd management that led to this preventable catastrophe. The prioritization of VIP arrangements over the safety of millions of ordinary pilgrims reflects a callous disregard for the common citizen. Recurring tragedies at the Kumbh Mela, including the 1954 stampede (300–800 deaths) and the 2013 incident (42 deaths), underscore a persistent failure to implement effective crowd-control measures. The SDPI demands urgent reforms to ensure the safety of all pilgrims, irrespective of their social or economic status, and to prevent such disasters in the future.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with the affected families and commend BBC Hindi for its fearless journalism, which has exposed the government’s attempts to obscure the truth. The SDPI calls for immediate action to address this grave injustice and restore accountability.