Kumbh Mela: No faecal bacteria in river waters, says chief minister Yogi Adityanath

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India, has dismissed a government report that indicated high levels of pollution at a key bathing site during the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest gathering. The report stated that the waters of the Sangam in Prayagraj, a confluence of rivers considered sacred by Hindus, contained alarming levels of bacteria from untreated sewage and animal waste, rendering it unsuitable for bathing. This raised concerns about the health and safety of pilgrims.

However, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath insisted on Wednesday that the waters were not only suitable for bathing but also safe for aachman – a ritual in which Hindus drink a sip of water after bathing. Official figures show that 565 million people have bathed there since the festival began on January 13. The Kumbh Mela, also known as Mahakumbh, is held every 12 years, drawing massive crowds to the sacred site.

Hindus believe that bathing at the Sangam, the confluence of India's most sacred rivers Ganges and Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, washes away sins, purifies the soul, and helps them attain salvation. The six-week-long Mela attracts devotees from all walks of life and from around the world. Tens of millions of people bathed there daily during the festival, which ended on February 26. Nevertheless, health activists and environmentalists have voiced concerns about the quality of the river water during the festival.

Prior to the start of the Mela, India's top environmental court had directed pollution control boards of the federal and state governments to regularly monitor the quality of water in the rivers and take appropriate steps to maintain its quality. But a report submitted earlier this month by the federal government's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicated high levels of coliform bacteria in the waters of the Ganges and Yamuna. Coliform levels are a key indicator of the presence of untreated sewage and fecal bacteria in water. The report stated that coliform levels in the Ganges were more than 1,400 times the acceptable limit, while in the Yamuna they were more than 660 times. The CPCB analyzed water samples from the two rivers on five different dates in January, but coliform levels consistently failed to meet standards.

Despite this, Chief Minister Adityanath maintained that his government was constantly monitoring the quality of water in the rivers to maintain its quality. "All the pipes and drains in and around the Sangam have been closed, and water is released only after purification," he said. He added, "There could be many reasons for the increase in fecal coliform, such as leakage of sewage and animal waste, but the level of fecal coliform in Prayagraj is within the standard." He accused the opposition of launching a "false campaign" to defame the Kumbh Mela, attempting to undermine the festival's significance.

This is not the first time the Uttar Pradesh government has come under scrutiny for the way it has organized and managed the Kumbh Mela. In one of the most auspicious bathing days in January, at least 30 people died in a stampede near the Sangam. On Sunday, about 18 people died in another stampede at the New Delhi railway station, where thousands of devotees had gathered to board trains to Prayagraj, highlighting concerns about crowd control and safety measures.