Stampede At Maha Kumbh Hindu Festival Kills 30 In India

At least 30 people died in an early morning stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest Hindu festival in India, officials said on Wednesday.

Vaibhav Krishna, a senior police official, told reporters in the city of Prayagraj that 90 others were also injured in the incident.

He said 25 of the deceased had so far been identified and situation was under control.

The stampede occured when pilgrims rushing to a sacred river confluence jostled for space to take a holy dip and tried to break through barricades, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in a televised statement.

The festival kicked off this month in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. A staggering 400 million people are expected to attend the festival over six weeks.

Wednesday marks Mauni Amavasya – one of the most significant days of the festival. Local authorities had expected around 100 million attendees.

The Maha Kumbh takes place every 12 years on the riverbanks of Prayagraj. This year, it is being held from Jan. 13 to Feb. 26.

Prayagraj, formerly Allahabad, is considered particularly holy to Hindus, as it is home to Triveni Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.