At least 40 people died in a stampede during the Kumbh Mela religious festival in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Reuters reported this.
400 million people were expected to participate in the world's largest festival. As a result of the stampede, 60 people were injured. The festival's main ceremony is bathing in water, which is believed to purify not just the body but also the soul from sins.
Visitors were waiting for their turn to enter the Ganges River when suddenly chaos and congestion occurred. The crowd headed towards the riverbank, and people started falling. Despite the disaster, the festival continued.
The Hindu festival that takes place at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India every 12 years attracts millions of people. This often leads to mass stampedes.
Since the start of the festival on January 13th, 110,000 people have participated, and the total number of visitors is expected to reach 450 million on the 45th day of the festival. The festival is held over an area of 40 square kilometers, and nearly 40,000 police officers ensure its security.
