A stampede during the massive Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, has left several people feared dead and many injured. The incident occurred early Wednesday as pilgrims rushed to take ritual baths in sacred rivers.
Several people were feared dead and many more injured in a stampede early Wednesday as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to take ritual baths in sacred rivers at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in northern India. The incident occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. as pilgrims tried to jump barricades erected for the movement of religious saints, according to Uttar Pradesh state's top elected official, Yogi Adityanath.
While Adityanath did not confirm any deaths in a televised statement eight hours after the crush, some local news websites reported 10 fatalities. Distressed families lined up outside a makeshift hospital, anxiously inquiring about their missing relatives. Rescuers worked tirelessly to attend to the injured, and police struggled to manage the overwhelming crowds. Clothing, blankets, and backpacks lay scattered around the stampede site, a stark reminder of the panic that ensued. The exact trigger for the stampede remained unclear. An ambulance navigated the dense throng of devotees gathered for a holy dip by the banks of the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. 'The situation is now under control, but there is a massive crowd of pilgrims,' Adityanath stated, adding that an estimated 90 million to 100 million pilgrims had converged at the site. Wednesday was a sacred day during the six-week festival, and authorities anticipated a record 100 million devotees to participate in the ritual bath at the confluence. Hindus believe that a dip at this sacred point will cleanse them of past sins and end their cycle of reincarnation. Thousands of ash-smeared Hindu ascetics, who undertake massive processions toward the confluence for the bathing ritual, were a major draw. Despite police urging devotees over megaphones to avoid the confluence, millions continued to flock to the site. Adityanath appealed to the people to instead take baths at other riverbanks.The Maha Kumbh festival, held every 12 years, commenced on January 13th and is the world's largest religious gathering. Authorities predict over 400 million people will visit the pilgrimage site in total. Nearly 150 million people have already attended, including high-profile figures like Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, as well as celebrities such as Coldplay's Chris Martin. A sprawling tent city was erected on the riverbanks to accommodate the influx of visitors. Equipped with roads, electricity, water, 3,000 kitchens, and 11 hospitals, the city served as a self-contained community. Approximately 50,000 security personnel were stationed within the city to maintain law and order and manage the crowds. Over 2,500 cameras monitored crowd movement and density, allowing officials to attempt to prevent such tragedies. Deadly stampedes are a recurring concern during Indian religious festivals, where vast crowds gather in confined spaces. In 2013, at least 40 pilgrims participating in the same festival were killed in a stampede at a train station in Prayagraj
MAHA KUMBH INDIA STAMPEDE PILGRIMS GANGES YAMUNA SARASWATI RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL FATALITIES INJURIES
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dozens injured in stampede at India's Maha Kumbh festivalTens of thousands of people at a massive religious gathering in India rushed to take a holy bath in the country’s northern Prayagraj city, setting off a stampede early Wednesday that has injured dozens.
Read more »
Dozens are injured in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in IndiaA stampede has injured dozens of people as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to take a holy bath in the river at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India.
Read more »
Dozens are injured in stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in IndiaIt was not immediately clear what triggered the panic at the festival where devotees from across India had congregated to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
Read more »
Stampede at Maha Kumbh Festival in India Leaves Multiple Feared DeadAt least one death has been reported in a stampede during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims rushed to take a sacred bath in the Ganges River, leading to chaos and injuries.
Read more »
Deadly Stampede at Maha Kumbh Festival in IndiaA tragic stampede has occurred during the Maha Kumbh festival in India, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The incident happened amidst a massive gathering of Hindu devotees who had come to bathe in the sacred Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. This event is one of the deadliest stampedes in recent years during religious gatherings.
Read more »
India Celebrates Maha Kumbh Festival: World's Largest Religious GatheringIndia has kicked off the Maha Kumbh Festival, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, in Prayagraj. Millions of Hindu devotees are expected to attend the 45-day event.
Read more »