Tragic Stampede at India’s Maha Kumbh Mela Leaves Dozens Dead and Injured

In Prayagraj, northern India, a devastating stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela has resulted in at least 30 fatalities and over 60 injuries. The incident occurred in the early hours as millions of Hindu devotees gathered for a ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, considered the most auspicious moment of the six-week festival.

Witnesses describe chaotic scenes as the massive crowd surged towards the riverbanks. An initial minor stampede around 1 a.m. escalated when devotees, attempting to escape, found exit. . .