Dozens feared dead at India’s Maha Kumbh Hindu festival in Uttar Pradesh

A stampede in the early hours of Wednesday at the world’s largest religious gathering resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people in India, with many others injured.

The crowd surged beyond a police barricade, trampling those in its path.

Frequent tragedies at religious gatherings

Mass casualties at religious events are not uncommon in India, particularly during the Kumbh Mela, which draws millions of Hindu devotees every 12 years to Prayagraj in northern India.

The incident occurred as thousands of pilgrims rushed towards the riverbanks for a ritual bathing ceremony, a sacred tradition on one of the holiest days of the festival. Witnesses told media that people sleeping or resting near the water were caught in the stampede.

“I was near a barricade when the crowd pushed forward, and suddenly I was knocked down with people falling on top of me,” said 48-year-old pilgrim Renu Devi. “Elderly people and women were crushed, and no one was there to help.”

Rescue workers navigated through piles of personal belongings—clothes, shoes, and bags—while carrying the injured away from the scene. Police officers transported bodies on stretchers, covered with thick blankets.

A doctor at a local hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that at least 15 people had died, with many others sustaining injuries. Authorities have yet to release an official death toll for the incident, which occurred around 1:00 a.m. local time (1930 GMT Tuesday).

Prime Minister offers condolences

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the tragedy as “extremely sad” and extended his condolences to the families of the victims. “I hope for the swift recovery of those injured,” he said.

Meanwhile, families of the victims anxiously waited outside a temporary medical center, set up about a kilometer from the stampede site, seeking updates on their loved ones.

Authorities urge pilgrims to avoid main bathing site

The Kumbh Mela, which spans six weeks, is the most significant event on the Hindu religious calendar. On Wednesday, saffron-robed holy men traditionally lead worshippers in a ceremonial bath at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

However, due to the stampede, officials patrolled the festival grounds with loudspeakers, urging devotees to avoid the affected area. “We request all pilgrims to stay away from the main bathing site,” one organizer announced. “Please follow security instructions.”

The Uttar Pradesh state government reported that millions had already participated in ritual bathing from midnight through the early morning hours. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured the public that medical teams were tending to the seriously injured and that the situation was now “under control.”

Political criticism and crowd management failures

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi blamed the tragedy on inadequate crowd control, alleging that authorities prioritized VIP movement over the safety of ordinary pilgrims. “This disaster is a result of mismanagement and the administration’s focus on prominent visitors rather than the general public,” he wrote on social media.

Transportation disruptions and pilgrims departing early

Manish Kumar, a railway official, stated that several special train services meant to transport devotees had been halted due to the overwhelming crowd. Some festival attendees, shaken by the incident, chose to leave Prayagraj ahead of schedule.

“I saw what happened at the bathing site, and my family got scared,” said Sanjay Nishad. “So, we’re leaving early.”

Kumbh Mela’s massive scale and past disasters

The Kumbh Mela is rooted in Hindu mythology, commemorating an ancient battle between deities and demons over a sacred nectar of immortality. Organizers compare the event’s scale to that of a temporary nation, expecting up to 400 million visitors before it concludes on February 26.

Recognizing the risks associated with massive gatherings, authorities have implemented an extensive surveillance network. Hundreds of cameras and aerial drones monitor crowd density, feeding data to a central command center designed to detect potential safety threats.

Despite these measures, past tragedies serve as grim reminders of the dangers. In 1954, more than 400 people lost their lives in a stampede at the Kumbh Mela, one of the deadliest crowd disasters in history. More recently, in 2013, 36 people were crushed to death in a similar incident at the same location.

While officials continue efforts to improve security, Wednesday’s deadly stampede underscores the ongoing challenge of managing immense religious gatherings in India.