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3mo ago

Deadly Stampede at India’s Maha Kumbh Mela Leaves Nearly 40 Dead

A pre-dawn crowd surge during a sacred bathing ritual at the world’s largest religious gathering in Prayagraj resulted in fatalities and injuries, with rescue efforts ongoing.

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Crowds by the banks of the Sangam
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Overview

  • Nearly 40 people have died, and dozens more were injured in a stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, early Wednesday morning.
  • The tragedy occurred as millions of Hindu devotees gathered for a ritual dip at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers on the auspicious day of Mauni Amavasya.
  • Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the crowd surged, causing people to fall and be trampled; many victims were elderly or women.
  • Authorities have yet to confirm an official death toll, but police and hospital sources report nearly 40 bodies at a local morgue, with more potentially expected.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials expressed condolences, while opposition leaders criticized mismanagement and VIP privileges during the event.