Prayagraj (TDI): Dozens of people, including women, were killed in a late-night stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, officials said on Wednesday.
Kumbh Mela, being held in Prayagraj city (formerly Allahabad) of the north Indian state, is where tens of millions of people gather to take a dip in sacred river waters on the most auspicious day of a six-week Hindu festival.
Police said the dozens of bodies were brought to the local Moti Lal Nehru Medical College hospital morgue. However, the government has yet to officially announce the number of casualties.
Read More:
According to Reuters, nearly 40 bodies were brought to the morgue by evening, while more bodies were coming in.
Some witnesses revealed there was a huge push that caused people to fall over one another. Others spoke of closure of routes to the water brought people to a standstill where most collapsed due to suffocation.
They blamed the police for failing to make proper arrangements.
However, according to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, the stampede started when some devotees tried to jump barricades put up to manage crowds.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi grieved over the loss of lives, without specifying the number of casualties.
