The ongoing Mahakumbh at Prayagraj has seen a massive turnout, with around 30 crore devotees having bathed in the holy Sangam as of January 30. However, the 19th day of the event was marked by a tragic stampede that resulted in the death of at least 30 people.

Moments before a deadly stampede at the world's biggest religious gathering in India, Hindu devotees queuing to take a spiritual bath in a river said they pleaded with police to open barricaded routes to thin out a surging crowd.

At least 17 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede at India's Maha Kumbh festival, the world's largest religious gathering, a doctor at a government hospital said, as tens of thousands of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred river waters during the Hindu event.