It claimed that at least 26 more families were given ₹5 lakh in cash on the condition that they sign documents attributing the cause of death to sudden illness.
Published Jun 11, 2025 | 12:47 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 11, 2025 | 12:47 PM
The stampede occurred after several pilgrims scaled a barricade at the Triveni Sangam — the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati — between 1 am and 2 am. (File pic/Yosarian?Creative Commons).
Synopsis: An investigation by BBC Hindi claimed that at least 82 people died following the Kumbh Mela stampede, challenging the Uttar Pradesh government’s figure of 37 fatalities.
An investigation by BBC Hindi has uncovered a major discrepancy in the official death toll from the Maha Kumbh stampede, challenging the Uttar Pradesh government’s figure of 37 fatalities.
According to the BBC‘s findings, released on Tuesday, 10 June, at least 82 people died following the incident on 25 January— more than double the official count.
It claimed that at least 26 more families were given ₹5 lakh in cash on the condition that they sign documents attributing the cause of death to sudden illness.
The British public broadcaster said its reporters travelled across 11 states and over 50 districts, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, and Assam, which spanned several weeks.
It said more than 100 families who lost loved ones during the Maha Kumbh were interviewed.
Only those cases backed by substantial documentation — including death certificates, eyewitness accounts, and hospital records — were included in the final list of victims, the BBC said in its report.
It categorised the 82 deaths into three groups based on the compensation received by the victims’ families:
According to the BBC, 36 deaths were officially acknowledged by the Uttar Pradesh government, with families receiving ₹25 lakh as compensation.
The state had publicly cited 35 such cases, but the BBC identified one additional case, including that of Arun Kopardekar from Karnataka.
However, it has claimed that kin of 26 people, whose deaths were not officially recognised as stampede-related, were given ₹5 lakh in cash on the condition that they sign documents attributing the cause of death to sudden illness. The BBC said one such case involved Tara Devi from Gopalganj in Bihar.
Meanwhile, it added that the families of 19 people received no compensation at all. Among them was Shyamlal Gond from Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh, whose body could not be identified due to the extent of injuries.
The BBC said it repeatedly sought clarification from state officials regarding the ₹1.30 crore disbursed to the 26 families, but received no response.
The report also questioned the effectiveness of emergency response mechanisms at the Kumbh Mela despite the presence of an extensive surveillance system.
Several families interviewed by the BBC described the challenges they faced in locating missing relatives, claiming they received little to no support from authorities in the immediate aftermath of the stampede.
In the report, the BBC stated that the actual death toll could be even higher, as their team was unable to reach all affected families. It said several people are still waiting for formal acknowledgement from the government and the compensation that would follow.
