LUCKNOW, India – A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, has left at least seven people dead and dozens injured in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The chaos erupted on Jan 29 as massive crowds surged to take a pre-dawn dip at the confluence of the sacred Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene of people falling and getting trampled as belongings, clothes, and bodies lay scattered. Officials have yet to confirm casualties, despite distressing reports from attendees. The festival, which draws hundreds of millions of devotees over six weeks, saw nearly 200 million visitors by Jan 28.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with concerns rising over crowd control at future events.