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Dozens are feared dead following crowd crushes at India’s Kumbh Mela festival, as vast numbers gathered for ritual bathing at one of Hinduism’s holiest sites, local officials reported.
According to the Associated Press, at least ten people have died, though other sources suggest a higher toll. Authorities anticipate 400 million attendees over the festival’s six weeks.
Shoes and clothing were scattered along the riverbank where the crushes occurred, while makeshift tent hospitals struggled to treat the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “deepest condolences” to the bereaved but did not confirm casualty figures. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the situation was “under control” but acknowledged the overwhelming crowds.
The tragedy occurred on a particularly sacred day, when a record 100 million devotees were expected to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
via The Guardian