"Public Health Disaster": TMC Slams BJP Over Health Issues From Maha Kumbh (image x.com/MahaKumbh_2025)
Kolkata, West Bengal: Referring a newspaper article citing health concerns over some Maha Kumbh attendees, TMC on Monday (March 3), slammed BJP saying that it has turned the festival into a “public health disaster”.
In a post on X, TMC wrote: “To score cheap political points, @BJP4India turned Mahakumbh into a spectacle, enabling a VIP culture, drumming up media hype, and chasing profits, while ignoring the health and safety of millions.”
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Along with the post, the party has shared a recent Telegraph article, titled “Some Mahakumbh attendees suffer from skin, stomach, respiratory ailments, doctors say”.
As per the news paper report, five doctors from different parts of the country states that after returning from the Maha Kumbh, people are experiencing some of the health issues such as fungal infections, skin allergies, diarrhea, respiratory infections, pneumonia, and acute gastroenteritis.
Mahakumbh turned into a public health disaster:
👉🏻 CPCB flagged alarmingly high fecal coliform levels in Ganga water
👉🏻 CM @myogiadityanath dismissed the report
👉🏻 Attendees suffer from serious health issuesTo score cheap political points, @BJP4India turned Mahakumbh into a… pic.twitter.com/PZSuRqwssy
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 3, 2025
Those who are undergoing treatment shows symptoms ranging from mild skin rashes to severe respiratory issues, and many patients needs long recovery periods, it adds.
Medical practitioners gave testimonies regarding the health concerns they are witnessing as patients came for treatment after their visit to Maha Kumbh. Doctors associated several illness to the water.
TMC in the post stated that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) flagged alarmingly high fecal coliform levels in Ganga water. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dismissed the report, party added.
A report submitted by the CPCB) to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has raised alarming concerns over the poor water quality in Ganga river at various locations in Prayagraj. The report indicated that a significant rise in faecal coliform bacteria, microorganismas usually found in the intestines of all warm-blooded animals and humans, is found in the river water in which devotees took a holy dip.
Since its levels are far above the safe limit of 2,500 units per 100 millilitres, river water quality did not conform with the bathing criteria, the report states. However, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister dismissed faecal bacteria report and said that Sangam water is fit for drinking. He called the report as a ‘propaganda’ to malign Maha Kumbh.
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On Saturday (March 1) State Deputy Chief Minister dismissed claims of health concerns over alleged contamination in the water of Ganga during the festival, and said that not even a single case of skin disease or allergy was reported at hospitals set up on Mela premises.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of ‘Shri Ram Parishad Vaicharik Maha Kumbh’, Pathak, who is also handling the portfolios of health and family welfare, said: “I came to know about the fake news of contamination of Ganga water and the claims that holy dip during Maha Kumbh can cause health issues. As I look after the health portfolio, I check the registers of the hospital every day. There is not a single case of any skin disease, not even of a boil or pimple, due to taking a dip in Sangam,” Times of India reported as Minister is saying.
Maha Kumbh festival observed once in 12 years, took place from January 13 to February 26, 2025. Considered as the world’s largest spiritual gathering has attracted over 66 crore participants, as per the record.
