At least 15 people have died, and many others were injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, India, on Wednesday.
The tragedy happened around 1:00 am when a huge crowd of Hindu pilgrims rushed towards the sacred rivers for a ritual bath. Many people, including women and the elderly, were trampled.
“I was sitting near a barricade when the crowd surged. The entire crowd fell on top of me, trampling me as it moved forward,” said Renu Devi, a 48-year-old pilgrim.
Rescue teams arrived quickly, carrying victims on stretchers covered with thick blankets. A doctor at the hospital confirmed, “At least 15 people have died, with dozens more injured.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “extremely sad” and expressed his condolences to the victims’ families. “I wish for the speedy recovery of all injured,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi, an opposition leader, blamed the disaster on poor crowd management. “Mismanagement and the administration’s focus on VIPs instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident,” he said.
The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, held every 12 years. This year’s event is expected to attract up to 400 million pilgrims before it ends on February 26.
Authorities have urged people to avoid the main bathing area. “Please cooperate with security personnel,” an official announced through a loudspeaker.
Stampedes have happened before at this festival. In 1954, over 400 people died in a similar incident, and in 2013, 36 people were crushed to death.
