As tens of millions gathered to take a sacred dip on the most auspicious day of the six-week Hindu festival, a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday resulted in at least seven fatalities and approximately ten injuries, according to an official.
According to Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, which is home to the festival city of Prayagraj, the rush happened between 1 and 2 a.m. (2:30 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday) close to the ascetics’ arena, where barricades had been erected to control people during their holy plunge.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sympathies to followers who have lost loved ones, but he did not say how many people had died.
According to him, the local government is working to assist the victims in every manner possible.
Adityanath went on to say that although the throng was still enormous, the situation was under control.
According to a top state official, the stampede has killed over seven individuals and injured about ten more. Since he lacked the authority to address the media, the official did not want to be identified.
Following the stampede, photos and videos showed people sitting on the ground sobbing and bodies being removed on stretchers, while others stepped over blankets, shoes, bags, and clothing left by individuals attempting to flee the throng.
As he followed dozens of ambulances racing towards the riverbank where the event took place, a Reuters witness noticed multiple dead bodies.
Witnesses described a massive push that forced devotees to tumble on one another close to the confluence of three sacred rivers, where a dip is particularly revered. Adityanath, the chief minister, advised people to stay away from the region.
On one side were police officers brandishing batons, while on the other side were barricades. Vijay Kumar, who traveled from the eastern city of Patna for the celebration, stated, “The push from behind was very powerful…people started falling.”
I’m not sure whether the folks laying around were dead or alive.