At least 17 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India on Wednesday, according to a doctor at a government hospital. The incident occurred as tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims rushed to dip in the sacred river waters during the festival. The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said over 30 injured people, five of them in serious condition, were brought to a hospital in Prayagraj city for treatment.
The stampede happened when pilgrims tried to jump barricades erected for a procession of holy men, according to Uttar Pradesh state’s top elected official, Yogi Adityanath. Indian authorities have yet to release official casualty figures, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the loss of lives, calling the incident “extremely sad” and extending his condolences.
Wednesday marked a sacred day during the six-week festival, with authorities expecting a record 100 million devotees to take part in the ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Hindus believe that bathing at this holy site can cleanse them of their sins and end the cycle of reincarnation.
Despite the tragedy, millions of pilgrims continued to gather at the 4,000-hectare (15-square-mile) festival site. Police urged them over megaphones to avoid the confluence, while Adityanath recommended taking baths at other riverbanks. He said that 90 million to 100 million pilgrims were at the site, with about 30 million having taken the holy bath by 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Associated Press has attempted to confirm the death toll and total number of injuries by contacting multiple senior officials, but none were authorized to release the figures.
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