Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday triggered an uproar in the Rajya Sabha by alleging that the death toll in the January 29 Maha Kumbh stampede was significantly higher than the official figures, claiming that "2,000 people had died" in the tragic incident. His statement led to strong protests from the treasury benches, prompting Deputy Chairman Harivansh to demand authentication of the figure.

As per PTI, Raut raised his concerns during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, challenging the government’s official count of 30 fatalities. He questioned whether the reported numbers were accurate and accused authorities of concealing the actual toll.