Stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela Claims Nearly 40 Lives

A pre-dawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people as millions gathered for a sacred dip in the Ganges on an auspicious day of the six-week festival, according to Reuters. Reports indicate that bodies continued to arrive at local hospitals, with officials confirming nearly 40 fatalities.

Witnesses described chaos as crowds surged toward the confluence of rivers, leading to a crush of devotees. Some individuals collapsed due to suffocation, while others were trampled in the ensuing panic. Senior police officer Vaibhav Krishna reported that approximately 90 people were hospitalized, with 30 confirmed dead.

Distraught relatives gathered at hospitals to identify victims, demanding accountability from authorities. While some blamed police for inadequate crowd control, the state government commended their swift response in managing the situation. Opposition parties blamed the stampede on what they called the government’s “mismanagement” and “VIP culture”.