On January 29, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and numerous injuries. The incident happened in the early hours as tens of thousands of Hindu devotees rushed to the banks of the rivers Ganges and Yamuna for a ritual bath.
Witnesses reported that the chaos began shortly after 2 AM local time when the crowd surged towards the river. Eyewitness accounts described blocked pathways, leading to panic as people began to push against one another, resulting in many being crushed. Emergency services were deployed to evacuate the injured, with some victims reported to be in critical condition.
The Maha Kumbh festival is known as the largest gathering of humanity, attracting over 400 million participants every 12 years. This year's event, occurring from January 13 to February 26, is especially significant due to a rare astrological alignment. Authorities had anticipated January 29 to be one of the most crowded days, coinciding with 'Mauni Amavasya,' a day believed to hold spiritual importance for devotees.
Following the incident, local officials temporarily suspended bathing activities as they assessed the situation and began an investigation into the causes of the stampede. The event continues to draw massive crowds, with the Uttar Pradesh state government estimating that around 100 million people would visit the site during the festival.