Indian authorities have not confirmed the exact number of casualties but Akanksha Rana the special executive officer for the festival mentioned that several people were injured and taken to the hospital while officials were still assessing the full extent of the damage. The tragedy occurred after a barrier near the river broke causing the crowd to surge. Witnesses reported seeing dead bodies near the riverbank and images showed the bodies being carried away on stretchers. Ambulances rushed through the crowds and security personnel assisted injured devotees.

The incident took place around 1:30 a.m. local time during a time when millions of people were attempting to take part in the sacred bath. The crowd became chaotic as people ran in different directions and others fell over. Some families were separated in the commotion and a few individuals are still missing.

The Kumbh Mela one of the largest religious gatherings in the world attracts between 80 and 100 million people especially on significant days like Amavasya when devotees gather at the confluence of three holy rivers the Ganges Yamuna and the mythical  to purify their sins and seek spiritual liberation. While it’s considered a peaceful gathering crowd related incidents have occurred in the past with fatalities due to poor crowd management.

Ahead of the festival authorities had implemented additional safety measures such as deploying more than 2,700 security cameras drones for aerial surveillance and increased police presence to ensure safety. Despite these efforts the overwhelming number of people at the event still created significant pressure on the security measures.

The Kumbh Mela a festival that draws upon Hindu mythology is held every 12 years in one of four cities. This year’s gathering is considered even more significant due to a rare celestial alignment that occurs only once every 144 years. Despite the government’s advice to avoid bathing at the busiest points large crowds continued to move toward the sacred site resulting in this tragic event.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring safety at large religious events especially when such a vast number of people gather in one place.