A barrier reportedly broke during a holy bath, injuring several devotees at the world's largest religious gathering.
At least 15 people have been killed in a crowd crush at the world's largest religious gathering in India, according to a doctor at the festival. The incident took place on Wednesday during the Hindu religious festival, the Kumbh Mela, in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, local media reported. A barrier broke during a holy bath in the city of Prayagraj, injuring several devotees, a Press Trust of India report said.
The Kumbh Mela is rooted in Hindu mythology, a battle between deities and demons for control of a pitcher containing the nectar of immortality. Organisers have compared the scale of this year's festival to that of a temporary country, forecasting up to 400 million pilgrims to visit before the final day on 26 February — more than the combined population of the United States and Canada.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
At least 15 killed in stampede at India's Kumbh Mela festivalEmergency workers have been pictured ferrying people out of the festival on stretchers after a barrier broke, causing a stampede.
Read more »
India’s Maha Kumbh Mela festival gets under way for first time in 144 yearsThe grand version of the 12-yearly Hindu pilgrimage is expected to draw more than 400 million devotees
Read more »
India crowd crushes: dozens feared dead at Kumbh Mela religious festivalPilgrims are desperately searching for missing loved ones after deadly crushes in Prayagraj where world’s largest religious gathering is taking place
Read more »
Dozens feared dead in India at Kumbh Mela religious festivalWitnesses describe surging crowds that crushed people on the banks of the Ganges as they arrived to take a dip at holy site
Read more »
Surrounded by Saffron: A Pilgrimage to the Kumbh MelaA firsthand account of attending the Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, highlighting the spiritual significance, the logistical challenges, and the unique atmosphere of this extraordinary event.
Read more »
Stampede at Maha Kumbh Festival in India Injures DozensA stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, resulted in dozens of injuries. The incident occurred as tens of thousands of devotees rushed to take a holy bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Authorities are investigating the cause of the panic.
Read more »