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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

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15 Killed in Stampede at India’s Kumbh Mela Festival

PRAYAGRAJ, INDIA: A deadly stampede at the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, left at least 15 people dead and many others injured on Wednesday, according to a doctor at the scene.

The stampede occurred in the early hours as millions of Hindu devotees gathered for ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers on one of the festival’s holiest days.

Tragic Scene at the Festival

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as rescue teams and pilgrims struggled to carry victims over the ground littered with clothes, shoes, and belongings.

“At least 15 people have died for now. Others are being treated,” said a doctor at the festival site, speaking anonymously.

Authorities urged pilgrims to avoid the main bathing spot, using loudspeakers to instruct people to stay back.

“Please cooperate with security personnel,” a festival staffer pleaded through a megaphone.

Many pilgrims, frightened by the incident, began leaving the festival early.

“My family got scared, so we’re leaving,” said attendee Sanjay Nishad.

Cause of the Stampede

Local official Akanksha Rana told PTI that the stampede began when crowd control barriers collapsed.

A pilgrim, Malti Pandey, recounted the horror:

“Suddenly a crowd started pushing, and many people were crushed.”

History of Deadly Incidents at Kumbh Mela

Deadly crowd crushes are tragically common at Indian religious events, and Kumbh Mela has a notorious history of such disasters:

  • 1954: Over 400 people died in a stampede.
  • 2013: 36 people were killed in another incident.

Authorities had installed hundreds of cameras and drones to monitor crowd density this year, but the safety measures failed to prevent the latest tragedy.

Despite the accident, the festival is expected to continue, with up to 400 million pilgrims expected before the final day on February 26.

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