There are still 90 injured
At least 30 people died and another 90 were injured in a stampede in Prayagraj, northern India, during Kumbh Mela, the largest Hindu pilgrimage in the world, says Reuters – which cites local authorities.
Uttar Pradesh State Government Head, Yogi Adityanath, asked the millions of devotees to avoid approaching the confluence of the Holy Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
Immediately after the accident, an AFP photographer saw many victims to be transported by rescue or faithful in blankets, some unconscious, for dozens of ambulances.
Held once every 12 years, the meeting, presented as the largest on the planet, brings together dozens of millions of faithful from all over the country and abroad for six weeks.
According to reports, the accident occurred shortly after 02:00 today (20:30 on Tuesday in Lisbon), when the crowd was heading to the water, to the first dive of the day.
Religious events are often the scene of deadly accidents in India.
In July, more than 120 people were killed, also in the state of Uttar Pradesh, during a stampede at a meeting that brought together over 250,000 faithful to hear a famous Hindu preacher.
Kumbh Mela has been the scene of deadly stampede in the past. In 1954, more than 400 people died, especially due to stampede or drowning, in one day.
During the last edition, in 2013, the festival was marked by the death of 36 people during a large movement of people at Prayagraj Station.
Scheduled from January 13 to February 26, the 2025 edition of Kumbh Mela was announced as a record edition. Authorities announced more than 400 million participants, becoming the largest meeting ever.
The ritual baths performed there allow the faithful, according to the Hindu tradition, to wash the sins and break free from the cycle of rebirth and reincarnation.
The previous edition attracted 120 million pilgrims, according to the authorities.
By comparison, the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia gathered about 1.8 million Muslims in 2024.
To accommodate the faithful, the organizers built a true city of prefabricated tents and buildings.
More than 40,000 police officers have been mobilized to ensure the safety of the event, according to the authorities, who are using a network of chambers, drones and artificial intelligence.
The 2025 edition of Kumbh Mela was strongly promoted by the government of Hindu Prime Minister Ultranationalist, Narendra Modi.
