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| A policeman rescues a pilgrim after a stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela | Photo: Reuters |
A deadly stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh, India, has left over 30 people dead, with nearly 25 others injured. The tragic incident occurred when millions of pilgrims gathered to take part in the holy bath during the festival, according to officials.
Drone footage from the scene showed millions of devotees gathering at the riverbank in the early hours before dawn on Wednesday, the most auspicious day of the Mahakumbh Mela. The pilgrims, shoulder to shoulder, had gathered for the ritual bath.
After the stampede, various videos and images emerged showing bodies being carried away on stretchers while people were seen sitting on the ground, mourning. A Reuters witness reported seeing several ambulances racing towards the site, along with several dead bodies.
Officials confirmed that the stampede began around 1 a.m. on Tuesday night but initially did not appear to be serious. The cause of the first incident remains unclear.
However, eyewitnesses indicated that as pilgrims scrambled to escape the initial stampede, they encountered another deadly crash. They attempted to return to the pontoon bridge, only to find it had been closed by authorities.
Ravin, a pilgrim from Mumbai, who was at the festival, described the scene: "I saw many people falling in the crowd, with others walking over them. Many children and women were helpless, screaming for help."
To control the situation and carry out rescue operations, the authorities deployed a special unit, the Rapid Action Force. Officials confirmed that rescue efforts were ongoing.
According to reports from news agency ANI, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already spoken with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and urged immediate measures to assist the victims.
The Mahakumbh Mela, which began two weeks ago in Uttar Pradesh, has attracted huge crowds, with nearly 148 million people attending the event over the past fortnight. The authorities had expected a record 100 million pilgrims to participate in the holy bath on Wednesday.
A temporary city has been set up in Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh Mela. The festival holds immense religious significance for Hindus, who believe that bathing at the confluence of the three sacred rivers, Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati—will cleanse them of sins and free them from the cycle of birth and death.
Following the stampede, the royal bath ceremony has been canceled.
Sannyasi Rabindra Puri said, "While all our saints were preparing for the bath, we received the news. Therefore, we have decided to cancel our bath in light of the incident."
A similar stampede tragedy occurred during the most sacred day of the 2013 Kumbh Mela, when 36 pilgrims, mostly women, lost their lives.