Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has levelled serious allegations against the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of deliberately suppressing the death toll in the stampede that occurred during the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela. He cited a BBC investigation report, which claims the actual number of fatalities was 82, significantly higher than the officially declared toll of 37.

In a strongly-worded post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, June 11, Mr. Gandhi said:

“BBC report reveals that figures of deaths in Kumbh Mela stampede were hidden. Like in COVID, the bodies of the poor were erased from the statistics. Like after every major railway accident, the truth is suppressed.”

He added,

“This is the BJP model – if there is no counting of the poor, then there is no accountability either!”

Mr. Gandhi is currently the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and has consistently criticised the ruling BJP on matters of transparency, governance, and treatment of marginalised citizens.

BBC Report Raises Eyebrows

According to the BBC’s investigative report, the stampede that occurred on January 29 during the religious congregation at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj claimed 82 lives. The report was based on interviews with hospital staff, eyewitnesses, and families of the victims who claimed that many bodies were cremated or taken away before being recorded.

The official figure released by the Uttar Pradesh administration states only 37 fatalities, sparking accusations of data manipulation for political reasons, especially with elections looming in the state.

The BBC report alleges that local authorities intentionally underreported deaths to prevent public backlash and shield the government from accountability. The report also claims some hospitals were instructed not to register all the casualties in official records.

Parallel to COVID and Railway Accidents

Rahul Gandhi drew a comparison between the alleged underreporting in the Kumbh stampede and similar suppression during the COVID-19 pandemic and major railway accidents.

He said the deaths of poor citizens are often erased from public records, making government accountability impossible. He accused the BJP model of governance of relying on manipulation of data to escape scrutiny and public anger.

This comparison is not the first time Gandhi has alleged that the deaths of marginalised communities go unacknowledged under BJP rule, but his remarks have intensified following recent incidents and controversies involving public safety.

Akhilesh Yadav Echoes Concerns

The allegations have also been supported by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who cited the same BBC report a day earlier and accused the U.P. government of lying.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Mr. Yadav said:

“Those who give false statistics are not worthy of public trust.”

He emphasised the need for honesty in governance, especially when lives are lost, and said such incidents prove the growing disconnect between government narratives and ground realities.

U.P. Government Yet to Respond

As of now, there has been no formal response from the Uttar Pradesh government on the allegations made by both opposition leaders or on the findings of the BBC report.

Officials have previously maintained that the Kumbh Mela stampede was handled efficiently, and the official toll was verified through proper procedures.

However, with the issue gaining national media traction and sparking a fresh political controversy, the U.P. government may be compelled to release clarifications or additional data to address public concerns.

Political Implications

The issue is expected to snowball into a significant election matter in the run-up to the next assembly and parliamentary polls in Uttar Pradesh. With Rahul Gandhi raising it at the national level and Akhilesh Yadav targeting the state leadership, the BJP may face renewed opposition unity in attacking its governance model.

Both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are trying to project the BJP as a party disconnected from ground realities, especially when it comes to transparency and welfare of the poor.

The fact that the BBC, an international media outlet, is the source of these allegations may also add weight and credibility to the opposition’s charges among urban and middle-class voters

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