DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025, NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 20 PAGES `7.00 (`8 BIHAR & RAIPUR, `15 SRINAGAR) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 COMMISSION OF INQUIRY FORMED; PM AND CM CONDOLE DEATHS OnMahaKumbh’sbigday,atleast 30killed,60injuredinstampede Officials blame incident on huge rush for dip at Sangam, breaking of barricades 16-page form to priest certificate: Uttarakhand UCC rules for live-in PRAYAGRAJ, JANUARY 29 AT LEAST 30 people died and 60 were injured in a pre-dawn stampede Wednesday at the MahaKumbhinPrayagrajwhere hundredsof thousandsgathered to take a dip at the Sangam. The incident took place shortly after 1.30 am as people headed towards the Sangam Nose—it’sthestripof landatthe confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati — for a ritual bath on the day of Mauni Amavasya which is considered auspicious. The dead and injured were taken to medical facilities on the Maha Kumbh grounds and to hospitals in the city. Following the incident, the snans (ritual bath) were halted — these resumedintheafternoon.Officials estimated that 10 crore people had taken a dip in the waters by evening. Officials blamed the incident on the heavy rush towards the Sangam Nose and the breaking CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 AISWARYA RAJ & APURVA VISHWANATH DEHRADUN, NEW DELHI, JANUARY 29 A 16-PAGE form that needs to be filled, Aadhaar-linked OTP, registrationfee,acertificatefromareligiousleaderthatthecoupleiseligibletomarryiftheysowish,and details of previous relationships — theseareamongthe rulesprescribed by the Uttarakhand government for registration of liveinrelationshipsunderitsUniform Civil Code. The UCC Act, which was passed by the state Assembly in February2024, makesitmandatory for couples to register with the government, both while ini- Jagwanti lost her mother and sister-in-law in the stampede on Wednesday. Chitral Khambhati STAMPEDEATKUMBH UMBH STAM PEDE Opp targets Centre, UP: DAY OF GRIEF AND PANIC — AND OFFICIAL SILENCE Mismanagement, VVIP ‘We screamed, nobody listened… culture led to tragedy people just walked over others’ LALMANI VERMA & SHYAMLAL YADAV NEW DELHI, JANUARY 29 WITHINHOURSof thestampede atthe Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, leadersof Oppositionpartiestargeted the Centre and the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that “mismanagement” and “VIP culture” led to the mishap and deaths. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhiblamedthe“VIPculture” for the incident and said it should be curbed and the government “should make better arrangementstomeettheneeds of common devotees”. “Mismanagement and the administration’sspecialfocuson VIP movement, instead of common devotees, are responsible for this tragic incident,” he said. SP chief and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav suggested that the management and administration of the Kumbh should be handed over to the Army to restore trust CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 NEW DELHI, JANUARY 29 WHILE INVESTIGATINGacaseof cyber fraud in mid-December 2024, IPS officer Raghvendra Sharma, the ASP of Jamtara district in Jharkhand, stumbled upon a name that piqued his interest – “DK Boss”. “I remember noticing the same name on another case,” he recalled. Justaweekearlier,inanother seemingly unconnected case of Police with some of those arrested in the case. Express cybercrime, police had detained a suspect whose questioning re- vealed that his modus operandi was distributing malicious Androidpackagekits(APKs)that are used to install apps designed to steal data. When ASP Sharma examined the suspect’s phone and scrutinised his WhatsApp chats, he found that these APKs were sold to the man by someone who went by the alias DK Boss. “The seller’s WhatsApp display picture was just the words ‘DK Boss’ written out, and the account description said ‘contact CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in New Delhi on Wednesday. Amit Mehra DeepSeek: Can do a Mangalyaan in AI, say experts PAGE 1 ANCHOR ALIND CHAUHAN & VIDHATRI RAO NEW DELHI, JANUARY 29 CHINESEARTIFICIALIntelligence (AI) start-up DeepSeek’s R1 model, which has disrupted the tech sector, holds lessons for Indiatodevelopthecriticaltechnology in cost-effective ways and without massive computationalresources,the nation's top researchers told The Indian Express. “With the launch of the R1 model, India could do a Mangalyaan in AI,” said Gautam Shroff,ProfessoratIIIT-Delhiand former senior vice-president of TataConsultancyServicesandits head of research. Researchers are of the view that although the US and China lead the AI race, India can certainly catch up. “With the right focus, India can position itself as a strong contender in the global AI ecosystem. The open-sourcing of DeepSeek models is creating a ripple effect, triggering global competition and collaboration.Indiashouldembracethis momentum,” said Mayank ion at a fract ach Mars ations. ged to re na ed n “We ma develop ” st of the in AI too of the co happen This can TD III SHROFF, GAUTAM els is eek mod of DeepS ” ourcing n-s effect “The ope a ripple creating JODHPUR VATSA, IIT MAYANK Vatsa, professor of Computer Science at IIT-Jodhpur. LikeShroff of IIIT-Delhi,Vatsa, who works on biometrics and computervision,saidIndianeeds to follow the template set by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to usher in major AI advancements. “In the early days of India’s space program, we were considered outsiders—somuchsothatcartoons ridiculedourperceiveddeficiencies in space technology. Yet ISRO’sjourneyhasprovenotherwise, transforming India into a global leader in this domain through cost-effective, innovative methods that encouraged self-relianceanddeliveredwideranging social impact,” he said. These same principles, Vatsa felt,couldbeappliedtoAIamidst the race to develop the technology.“WemanagedtoreachMars at a fraction of the cost of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 EXPRESS NETWORK BY UNNY MANISH SAHU 50LAKH DEVOTEES ARRIVE IN AYODHYA: STATE GOVT FIND MISSING LOVED WHY THERE WAS A BIG CROWD ON WEDNESDAY —ENS,BENGALURU ONES Many are forced to continue their search. A number of ambulances begin to wind their way out with the bodies of victims that have been identified. At 8:05 pm, two ambulances leave with the bodies of two Jaunpur residents — 60year-old Rampati Devi and her daughter-inlaw Reeta Devi. ‘Can’t go back without her — or her body’ At 9:23 pm, four more bodies are placed in two ambulances. They were group of nine from Karnataka. part of a Kanchan Koparde, part of this group, sits next to two bodies wr PAGE 9 WITH JUST days to go for the Delhi Assembly elections on February DECISION 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi 2025 on Wednesday DELHI asked for an “opportunity to serve” the Capital's CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SINCE THE early hours on Wednesday, a group of people has been assisting the familiesof thosewhodiedin thestampede,who were waiting in the biting cold outside the postmortem house to collect the their loved ones. The postmortembodies of house is located on the campus of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College in Prayagraj. The group, comprising around 10 people, has been providing snacks, tea and coffee to the elderly and arranging milk for children. Most of these volunteers are family members of Class IV employees at thecollegewho reside near the mortuary. “We saw a large number of people gatheredatthemortuary gate. It was heartbreaking to see elderlypersons and children,”said Omwati, who works at the gate of the girls' hostelof thecollege.Shereachedoutto some neighbours and they all decided to prepare some refreshments for those in “Initially, people were hesitant the crowd. to take anything, but as time passed, they accepted the tea and coffee,” she added. The mortuary premises saw a large crowd, as grieving families gathered to collect the bodies of their loved ones after postmortem procedures. “After noticing some people sitting for a long time, them food... but they declined,” we offered said Meena Devi, whose husband, Panna Lal, works at the medical college. Sagar Kumar, whose father Prem Chand works at the medical college, said they had prepared hundreds of cups of tea and coffee for those waiting outside the postmortem housesinceearlymorning.“We arestillworking,” he said on Wednesday late evening. FULL COVERAGE NEW DELHI, JANUARY 29 tiating and terminating a live-in relationship. Failure to register LUCKNOW, JANUARY 29 At mortuary, wait and despair: GAYATHRI MANI WHILE UTTARAKHAND became the first state to bring in a UCC, it is likely to be a template for others. Home Minister Amit Shah had told Parliament that every BJP-ruled state would implement a UCC. Regulation of live-in relationships raises questions of privacy and liberty. In a statement, the CM said: “These incidents give us lessons as well. We have decided togo into the roots of this incident. We willconducta judicialinquiry into it.Because, (Top) Relatives of the stampede after so many reviews of the arrangements victims outside the mortuary (Above) People look for done and keeping vigilance of a hospital their belongings after at the local level the stampede at the Maha in Prayagraj on Wednesday. Chitral Khambhati suchtragedy took place. & Vishal Srivastav Kumbh in Prayagraj on Theinquiry is being Wednesday. Reuters done to find out the reasons.” ras. There has been immense “Besidesthis,monitoringwasd pressure at difonebythe ferent railway CMControlroom,DGPcontrolr stations in Prayagraj and oom,andChief waysoperatedover300trainst railSecretary control room; ocarrythepiland meetings were grims to their destinations,” the conducted the whole day. Prime Minister CM added. According to the CM, the (NarendraModi),HomeMinist incident er(AmitShah), curred ■ The stampede at the RailwayMinister(Ashwini due toa hugecrowdbreakingthe “ocSangam took place barin the early hours of Wednesday Ayodhya: On the occasion Vaishnaw), BJP national ricades at Akhara Marg (January of 29), a day crowds bigger Mauni Amavasya, Ayodhya president (JP Nadda) and than usual were and crossing the barriflocking to the riverbank witnessed an overwhelming UP Governor (Anandiben for the ritual cadesby jumping over it”. surge dip. This was because of devotees who took a Patel) have been coordiJanuary 29 was holy dip in Announcing an exMauni Amavasya, one the Saryu River. Experts natingsincemorning,”the of the days gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the estimate considered very auspicious that over 50 lakh devotees CM said. for taking a kin of each of the dehave bath at the Kumbh Mela. arrived in Ayodhya in the “It is very natural that ceased,theCMsaid:“This past 72 hours and the influx is questionsare being raised isa verysadincident...Our expected to ■ Mauni Amavasya is the continue until Vasant 4 from Karnataka feared on these issues. This new heartfelt condolenceis for Panchami, dead night of the krishna paksha moon an official statement said. Mauni Amavasya snan (the waning the kin of these persons. At least four people from is moon fortnight) of the The temple town remained Karnataka's the main snan and all the Hindu month of We have been in regular Belagavi, including a mother-daughter during Kumbh Mela is, Magh. On this day, both packed with worshippers thus, of added roads were choked. The the Sun and duo, contactwith theMela adwere feared to be among administration was spiritual significance,” Moon are in the same thecasualtiesof the throughout the day, with ministration Dr Ramesh Kumar engagedtoclearthosechokedr raashi of Makar long Maha KumbhstampedeonWednesd Upadhyay, president of oads.Afterthe arrangementsand the police. All required (Capricorn), which makes queues outside Ram Mandir the Bhartiya incident, theakharas had ay. The it astrologically Jyotish were made following the victims from Belagavi were and postponedthe am- lief significant. Maun means reAadhyatm Parishad, said. Hanumangarhi temple identified as BJP work done by making rit snan scheduled at 4 am silence, and on extending worker Jyoti Hattarwad, a green corridor and this wasdone rushing Mauni Amavasya, it is late into the night. A massive 50; her daughter later in the afternoon. There the injured to hospital.” believed that Megha Hattarwad, 16; ■ About why silence is has been a presobserving silence, at least Mahadevi Bhavanur, crowd stretched from observed on this The chief minister said sure of over 8 crore pilgrims till before one Shringar and Arun Koparde. The the DGP and the day, Upadhyay said, “The in Prayagraj and chief takes a bath, is beneficial. Belagavi district adHaat to the temple premises. new moon is a secretary will go to they had been stopped ministration has appointed Prayagraj on in adjoining districts day of big happenings Similar scenes were observed Thursday to look two nodal in the world of by setting up hoarding areas. cers—SpecialDeputy Commissioner offiat nature. The hightide and They have now arrangements into all the issues, and the ■ “According to Hindu the Ram Temple. low tide are been released after the Harsha religious beliefs, required for the upcoming Shetty and Additional amrit snan by akhamore pronounced... On taking a ritual bath in Superintendent of events at Maha Kumbh. such a a river on Mauni Police Shruti N S—to travel — PTI nature is so dynamic, Hindu day, when Amavasya washes away to Prayagraj and sages have one's sins. Taking make necessary arrangements advised stillness and silence a dip in the Triveni on to bring the a Mauni Amavasya for humans.” bodies of the victims from the district back — YASHEE to Karnataka. MAULSHREE SETH Finding ‘D K Boss’: In Jamtara, how It’s been Cong, ‘AAPda’ police cracked cyber crime network for 25 years, give BJP a chance to serve: PM HIMANSHU HARSH EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE LUCKNOW, JANUARY 29 PRAYAGRAJ, JANUARY 29 Outside the SRN Hospital mortuary in Prayagraj. Vishal Srivastav Setting stage for ● others As young and old wait for bodies, locals offer help UTTAR PRADESH Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday evening ordered a judicial probe into the stampede at Maha Kumbh that left over 30 people dead during the amrit snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The chief minister said arate inquiry will be conducted thata sepby the UP Police into the incident. The three-member judicial probe team is being headed by retired Justice of AllahabadHigh Court Harsh Kumar. Thetwo other members of the team are former DGP VK Gupta and retired IAS officer DK Singh. In a notification issued later, the government statedthat the probe would cover two points—a) finding out the reasons and circumstances causing the incident, give suggestions about preventing and b) to penings in future. The commissionsuchhaphas been given one month to submit the report but it could be extended. IT IS 7:41 pm and Naresh Kumar from Amritsar has beensearching theentireMaha Kumbh area for his wife since 2 am, when thedeadlystampedetook place.Hehasnow finally arri d at the mor PRAYAGRAJ, BHOPAL, JANUARY 29 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 me’ Scattered shoes, slippers and clothes tell the story of the chaos that unfolded Maha Kumbh. At least 30 at the Sangam area of the people were killed and 60 injured in the stampede PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO CHITRAL KHAMBHATI, MAULSHREE SETH & ANAND MOHAN J IT’S AFTER9 pm — a day of chaos sincedaybreak,markedbypanic and grief, is winding down. Outside the morgue of the MotilalNehruMedicalCollegein Prayagraj, there are relatives still looking for their loved ones who have gone missing but this is ‘The crowd walked over UP CM orders judicial probe: ‘These give lessons as well’ BUSINESS AS USUAL E E X P L A I NE D MANISH SAHU & MAULSHREE SETH ISRO TON: 100 LAUNCHES AND COUNTING PAGE 8