A pre-dawn stampede at the world’s largest religious gathering has left at least 30 people dead and many more injured in India.
The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday at the Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, as a surging crowd overwhelmed a police cordon, trampling bystanders.
Pilgrims had gathered for ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers when chaos erupted. Survivors recounted being crushed under the weight of thousands rushing forward in the darkness.
Authorities have yet to confirm the final death toll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the incident “extremely sad.”
The Uttar Pradesh government insists the situation is under control, while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised poor crowd management.
The Kumbh Mela, expected to draw 400 million visitors, has a tragic history of fatal stampedes, with 36 deaths recorded in 2013 and over 400 in 1954.
