Kumbh Stampede Death Toll May Be Much Higher Than Reported, Says MP Ram Gopal Yadav

New Delhi- Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav has made explosive allegations regarding the recent Maha Kumbh stampede, challenging the official death toll of 30 and claiming that thousands actually lost their lives during the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya. Speaking to reporters near Parliament, Yadav alleged that bodies were deliberately disposed of in the Ganga River or buried along its banks to conceal the true scale of the tragedy.

The SP leader accused the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of issuing strict directives to keep the reported death count below 30. According to Yadav, families are being offered cash payments of Rs 10,000-15,000 to take away bodies without post-mortem examinations, preventing an accurate count of fatalities. He cited eyewitness accounts to support his claims about the higher death toll.

Yadav attributed the stampede to administrative failures, particularly criticizing the decision to restrict bridge access to Akharas and VIPs during the sacred Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual, while blocking access for regular devotees. He argued that this discriminatory crowd management directly led to the tragic incident and accused the state government of deliberately downplaying its severity. The allegations come amid growing scrutiny of the government's handling of the Kumbh tragedy.