A pre-dawn stampede during the world’s largest religious gathering killed at least 15 people in India on Wednesday, with many more injured as a rushing mob spilt out of a police perimeter and trampled bystanders.
Deadly crowd occurrences are common at Indian religious festivals, such as the Kumbh Mela, which draws tens of millions of devotees every 12 years to the northern city of Prayagraj.
As pilgrims hurried to partake in a sacred day of ritual bathing, individuals sleeping and sitting on the ground near the rivers told AFP they were trampled by massive swells of devotees coming towards them in the darkness.
“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,” Pilgrim Renu Devi, 48, told AFP.
“When the crowd surged, elderly people and women were crushed, and no one came forward to help.”
Rescue teams transporting casualties from the accident site had to navigate through heaps of clothing, shoes, and other discarded items.
Police were seen transporting stretchers containing the bodies of victims shrouded in heavy blankets.
“At least 15 people” were murdered, with scores more injured, a doctor at a hospital treating survivors said AFP, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak to the media.
Authorities have yet to formally determine the number of deaths in the stampede, which occurred about 1:00 a.m. (1930 GMT Tuesday).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the disaster as “extremely sad” and sent his “deepest condolences” to the families of those lost.
“I wish for the speedy recovery of all injured,” he added.
During the six-week Kumbh Mela, which is the most important event on the Hindu religious calendar, thousands of people bathed at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to cleanse themselves of sins.
However, dozens of relatives were waiting for news outside a purpose-built hospital for the festival, located about one kilometre (0.6 miles) away from the disaster site.
“We humbly request all devotees do not come to the main bathing spot,” said one festival staffer, his voice crackling through his megaphone.
“Please cooperate with security personnel.”
According to the Uttar Pradesh state government, millions of people bathed in the waterways between midnight and early morning.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that medical workers were treating those seriously injured in the crush and that the situation was “under control.”.
However, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi blamed the disaster on poor crowd management that prioritised the comfort of prominent pilgrims.
