At Least 12 Feared Dead in Stampede at India’s Kumbh Mela Festival

Tragedy strikes as at least 12 people are feared dead in a stampede during India’s Kumbh Mela festival. Learn more about the incident and the ongoing response efforts.

According to eyewitnesses and hospital sources, at least 12 individuals have lost their lives in a crowd crush during a large religious festival in northern India, as reported by the BBC.

Official confirmation regarding the number of people injured or killed is still pending.

The BBC’s Samira Hussain portrays an atmosphere of “absolute chaos” along the riverbank, where clothes, shoes, blankets, and backpacks were scattered on the ground as crowds attempted to flee.

Officials had anticipated that as many as 100 million people would participate in the bathing day at the Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious festivals globally.

The primary hospital at the Kumbh Mela has been transformed into a fortress.

Ambulances have been coming and going from the premises all morning.

However, access to the hospital is being restricted for everyone, including members of the media.

If you’re just tuning in, here’s the latest information available a few hours following the crowd surge at India’s Kumbh Mela festival:

According to eyewitnesses and hospital sources cited by the BBC, at least 12 worshippers have lost their lives in a stampede in Prayagraj.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that numerous pilgrims have sustained serious injuries. However, he did not specify any numbers or comment on media reports regarding fatalities.

The incident occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. local time (7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. GMT) when some pilgrims attempted to bypass police barricades in order to reach Sangam Nose, the confluence where India’s most revered rivers—the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—meet. Devotees hold the belief that bathing in these waters purifies them of their sins and aids in achieving salvation.

Wednesday, celebrated as Mauni Amavasya—a day dedicated to silent introspection—was regarded as the most significant day for bathing during the festival.

Officials had estimated that up to 100 million people would participate today, and they report that by 10:00 AM India time, more than 36 million have already taken part in the bathing ritual.

The main highlight of the day, the Shahi snan or royal bath, where thousands of ash-covered ascetics immerse themselves in the river has been postponed. Initially, these ascetics announced they would not participate; however, they later decided to proceed to Sangam for bathing with reduced processions.

Opposition leaders in India have criticized the government, claiming that mismanagement caused the crush at the Kumbh Mela, which is feared to have resulted in 12 deaths.

Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader in parliament, stated on X that “This tragic incident is primarily due to mismanagement and the administration’s excessive focus on VIP movement at the expense of ordinary devotees.” He described it as “extremely sad.”

Mallikarjun Kharge, the President of Gandhi’s Congress party, also condemned the Uttar Pradesh government for its “inadequate arrangements” and giving priority to VIP movements.

Uttar Pradesh is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, led at the national level by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Other opposition party leaders have extended their condolences.

As we’ve been reporting, authorities have yet to confirm the number of people injured or killed in the crush.

BBC