Mamata Banerjee accuses UP government of hiding actual toll at Maha Kumbh stampede

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the Uttar Pradesh government of hiding the actual toll in the stampede that occurred at the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage site in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on January 29, reported PTI.

Officials have said that 30 persons were killed and 60 others were injured at the site. However, several media reports have suggested that the actual toll could be significantly higher.

At a press conference held after the state budget was presented in the Assembly, Banerjee claimed that the Uttar Pradesh government initially tried to prevent the media from showing the real extent of the tragedy at the Maha Kumbh.

“So many people died in the Maha Kumbh incident, but they are not releasing the correct death toll,” she said. “They created such hype about the event, yet there were no proper arrangements made at the venue.”

The Trinamool Congress leader questioned the “VIP culture” at the Maha Kumbh, and said that during the Gangasagar Mela held in West Bengal in January, she did not visit the site on the day of the holy dip to avoid inconveniencing the public.

#WATCH | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, “…So many people died in the Maha Kumbh, how much commission was given? How many committees went there…They have not shown the actual report…”…

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