At least 15 people are feared to have died and several others were injured in a stampede at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Festival in north India’s Uttar Pradesh.
The incident occurred at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj city when thousands of people assembled for the holy dip in the Ganges on Wednesday on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, considered an auspicious event by Hindu devotees.
Sources told Indian news agency UNI that the incident took place around 2 am due to the heavy crowd pressure.
However, no official confirmation has been made so far.
The situation is reportedly under control.
Several videos that are currently going viral on social media show injured people being carried in stretchers.
The injured people were reportedly rushed to the makeshift hospital built in the Tent city.
People with knowledge of the incident told Hindustan Times on condition of anonymity that at least 15 bodies have been brought to the hospital.
Many pilgrims are expected to take the holy dip on Wednesday on the occasion of Amrit Snan, a very significant ritual of the part of Maha Kumbh.
Yogi Adityanath asks pilgrims to follow instructions
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed people to follow the instructions of authorities and cooperate with them.
“Take bath at the ghat of Mother Ganga near where you are, do not try to go towards Sangam Nose,” he posted on X after the stampede occurred.
“People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam. Do not pay any attention to any rumours,” he said.
Samajwadi Party expresses sadness
Samajwadi Party, a key opposition party in Uttar Pradesh, posted on X: “News of devotees getting injured in stampede at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, heart-breaking.”
The party directed the government to perform rescue and relief operations speedily.
Around 160,000 tents, 150,000 toilets and a 776-mile (1,249-kilometer) drinking water pipeline have been installed at the temporary tent city in Prayagraj covering 4,000 hectares, roughly the size of 7,500 football fields.
Similar stampede occurred at 2013 Maha Kumbh
During the Last Maha Kumbh Mela in 2013, dozens of people were killed and injured in a crowd crush at a railway station as pilgrims gathered in the city.
