At least 30 individuals have tragically lost their lives in a crowd crush at India's Kumbh Mela festival, the world’s largest religious gathering, held in Prayagraj, northern India. The disaster struck early Wednesday during one of the festival's most sacred bathing rituals, as devotees surged towards the riverbanks.
Police reported that around 60 more were injured, with over 90 being treated at various hospitals. Although officials confirmed the deaths throughout the day, opposition leaders have criticized the government for their perceived lack of transparency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims' families and wished for the swift recovery of the injured, calling the event "extremely sad."
Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos with personal belongings scattered on the ground, as crowds navigated a turbulent atmosphere. Witness Ayesha Mishra described the pandemonium, stating, "People were going in every direction... Children were getting crushed by the crowds."
The incident occurred amidst a record influx of pilgrims, with estimates indicating that over 100 million people were expected to participate in the festival, which runs from January 13 to February 26. The event features various religious and cultural activities, culminating in the Shahi Snan, or royal bath, where thousands participate in bathing rituals believed to purify the soul.
Despite the tragedy, the festival continued to attract massive crowds, with people publicly seeking their missing family members. The situation remained tense as officials attempted to maintain order amidst reporting constraints about the calamities unfolding.
With a long history of crowd disasters at religious events in India, there are rising concerns over safety and management protocols. Many attendees, including opposition leaders, demanded answers about the chaos and called for the government to improve safety measures for future gatherings.
As the search for missing loved ones continues amid debris and despair, the Kumbh Mela, a symbol of faith and tradition, faces increasing scrutiny over how such tragic incidents are managed going forward.
Police reported that around 60 more were injured, with over 90 being treated at various hospitals. Although officials confirmed the deaths throughout the day, opposition leaders have criticized the government for their perceived lack of transparency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims' families and wished for the swift recovery of the injured, calling the event "extremely sad."
Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos with personal belongings scattered on the ground, as crowds navigated a turbulent atmosphere. Witness Ayesha Mishra described the pandemonium, stating, "People were going in every direction... Children were getting crushed by the crowds."
The incident occurred amidst a record influx of pilgrims, with estimates indicating that over 100 million people were expected to participate in the festival, which runs from January 13 to February 26. The event features various religious and cultural activities, culminating in the Shahi Snan, or royal bath, where thousands participate in bathing rituals believed to purify the soul.
Despite the tragedy, the festival continued to attract massive crowds, with people publicly seeking their missing family members. The situation remained tense as officials attempted to maintain order amidst reporting constraints about the calamities unfolding.
With a long history of crowd disasters at religious events in India, there are rising concerns over safety and management protocols. Many attendees, including opposition leaders, demanded answers about the chaos and called for the government to improve safety measures for future gatherings.
As the search for missing loved ones continues amid debris and despair, the Kumbh Mela, a symbol of faith and tradition, faces increasing scrutiny over how such tragic incidents are managed going forward.
