15 Dead in India Stampede at Hindu Mega-Festival

At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, in northern India on Wednesday. The deadly incident occurred in the city of Prayagraj as massive crowds surged past police barricades, trampling bystanders resting near the sacred riverbanks.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene as thousands of devotees rushed to participate in a ritual bathing ceremony at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. “I was sitting near a barricade, and during the pushing and shoving, the entire crowd fell on top of me, trampling me as it moved forward,” said 48-year-old pilgrim Renu Devi.
Rescue teams navigated through abandoned shoes and clothes, carrying victims on stretchers draped in thick blankets. A doctor treating survivors at a nearby hospital confirmed the death toll, though authorities have yet to release an official figure. The stampede occurred around 1:00 am local time (1930 GMT Tuesday).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the tragedy “extremely sad” and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured that medical workers were tending to the wounded and that the situation was “under control.”
Festival officials, using loudspeakers, urged pilgrims to avoid the main bathing area and seek alternative sites. Meanwhile, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi blamed the disaster on poor crowd management, accusing authorities of prioritizing VIP movements over public safety.
The six-week Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is expected to attract up to 400 million devotees before it concludes on February 26. While security measures include a vast surveillance network of drones and cameras, the risk of deadly crowd incidents remains high.
The 1954 Kumbh Mela witnessed one of India’s worst stampedes, with more than 400 people killed. In 2013, 36 pilgrims lost their lives in a similar tragedy in Prayagraj.