Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Massive crowds return to Maha Kumbh festival day after deadly stampede

Authorities have launched an investigation into the stampede, which occurred as worshippers rushed to the river to take a dip. Police said 30 people died and 60 were injured, but sources told Reuters the death toll was closer to 40.

kumbh-satellite-reuters

A satellite image shows a crowd of people along banks of Yamuna river, following a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela on January 29. (Photo: Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS)

MILLIONS of Hindu devotees gathered in Prayagraj, northern India, on Thursday for the Maha Kumbh festival, a day after a stampede killed dozens during the event’s most significant bathing day.

Despite the large turnout, some participants remained cautious following the incident.


Krishna Soni, a student from Bikaner in Rajasthan, and his family of eight tied themselves together with string to avoid getting separated in the crowd. "We are walking very carefully and trying to avoid the crowded areas," he told Reuters.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the stampede, which occurred as worshippers rushed to the river to take a dip. Police said 30 people died and 60 were injured, but sources told Reuters the death toll was closer to 40.

On Wednesday, over 76 million people took what is called a "royal dip" in the river, with three more such bathing days scheduled before the festival ends. '

By 10 am (0430 GMT) on Thursday, more than nine million people had taken a "holy dip" at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, officials said.

Devotees bathe daily during the festival, but certain days are considered more sacred, attracting even larger crowds. Many believe the ritual washes away sins and grants salvation from the cycle of rebirth.

Held every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh festival is expected to draw around 400 million devotees in 2025, according to official estimates. By comparison, the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia saw 1.8 million participants last year.

Train and bus stations in Prayagraj saw an influx of travellers on Thursday, but authorities said crowd management efforts were in place. "Things are now totally under control," senior police officer Vaibhav Krishna told Reuters.

Opposition leaders have criticised the handling of the festival and called for better arrangements, while local media highlighted the need for improved crowd planning. "There is much scope for improving crowd management at the Kumbh," the Hindustan Times said in an editorial.

Authorities have set up a temporary city spanning 4,000 hectares (9,990 acres) along the riverbank, with 150,000 tents and nearly the same number of toilets. More than 50,000 security personnel have been deployed to manage the event.

(With inputs from Reuters)

More For You

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions
Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions

THE Sri Lanka government on Wednesday (2) formed a committee to recommend measures regarding the UK's decision to impose sanctions on three former military commanders who led the campaign that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

Health minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters that foreign minister Vijitha Herath, justice minister Harshana Nanayakkara and deputy minister of defence Aruna Jayasekara would comprise the committee that would consult experts for the purpose.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK Introduces Digital Entry Permit for European Visitors

The ETA can be purchased online for £10 (12 euros), but the cost will rise to £16 from 9 April. (Representational image: Reuters)

Reuters

European visitors to UK will now need digital entry permit

FROM WEDNESDAY, European visitors to the UK will need an online entry permit as part of new travel requirements introduced by the British government.

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), a digital permit, will be required for travellers from Europe. UK officials say the move aims to enhance border security and simplify entry procedures.

Keep ReadingShow less
british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Imran-Khan-Getty

Imran Khan, founder of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been in jail since August 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

FORMER Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on human rights and democracy.

The nomination was announced by members of the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA), an advocacy group formed in December, who are also part of the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum.

Keep ReadingShow less