A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela, the worlds largest religious festival, claimed the lives of at least 30 people and left 60 others injured on Wednesday (Jan 29), according to local police.

The incident occurred during one of the festivals "royal bathing" days, a significant event when millions of Hindu pilgrims gather at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Officials had anticipated up to 100 million attendees on this day alone.

Vaibhav Krishna, the official in charge of security at the festival, reported that the stampede took place early in the morning near the riverbanks, where thousands of devotees were waiting for their turn to perform the sacred ritual of bathing in the holy waters. The crowd surge caused barricades set up for safety to collapse, leading to chaos and panic as people were trampled.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media platform X, offering sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, which spans a month and a half, is one of Hinduisms most significant religious gatherings. Pilgrims believe that immersing themselves in the sacred rivers during this period will cleanse them of sins and break the cycle of rebirth.

Stampedes are not uncommon at India's large religious events, where crowd control poses significant challenges. A similar tragedy occurred during the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela, resulting in the deaths of 36 people.

Source: TheStar