At least 39 people are now believed to have been killed in a pre-dawn crush at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday, with bodies reportedly still being brought to a local morgue.A Reuters witness counted 39 bodies inside the morgue, and the news agency reports that three police sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said nearly 40 bodies had been recovered.More than 12 hours after the tragedy at the world’s biggest gathering of people there was still no official figure on casualties, although in a statement India’s prime minister Narendra Modi confirmed there had been fatalities by offering condolences to those who had lost loved ones, in an incident he described as “extremely sad”.Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state where the festival city of Prayagraj is located, said the stampede was set off when some devotees tried to jump barricades put up to manage crowds.One witness, speaking to Reuters, said four members of her family had been killed, adding “Police didn’t make proper arrangements. They are responsible for this.”Reuters reports there were 15 ambulances outside the local Moti Lal Nehru Medical College hospital morgue, and about half a dozen people looking inside for their loved ones.The Kumbh Mela pilgrimage takes place every 12 years and is widely seen as the “festival of festivals” in the Hindu religious calendar in India. More than 400 million people are expected to attend during the six weeks it lasts. Authorities had expected a record 100 million people on Wednesday alone.
Dozens of people were killed in a pre-dawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday. State authorities said at least 30 people were killed and 60 were injured in the pre-dawn stampede. Three police sources and a Reuters witness put the toll at nearly 40
Bodies were still being brought to the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College hospital morgue more than 12 hours after the tragedy at the world’s biggest gathering of people. 100 million people had been anticipated on Wednesday
The stampede appears to have occurred when crowds surged towards the confluence of three rivers, where immersion is considered particularly sacred
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to those who had lost loved ones, in an incident he described as “extremely sad”. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said “mismanagement” of the festival by the administration as being responsible for the deaths
Indian authorities have been slow to release information about the accident, with the first official casualty figures being issued nearly 18 hours after the stampede, while the festival continued on as planned
Festivities at the Kumbh Mela have continued on Wednesday, despite the stampede.Reuters is carrying a snap that state authorities have said there are at least 30 dead, and 60 other people wounded in the crush at the Kumbh Mela festival.Associated Press reports police officer Vaibhav K
