The late release of casualty figures at the gathering of millions of people was seen as shielding the political fortunes of a local leader with national aspirations.

Between 90 to 100 million pilgrims had congregated to take ritual baths in sacred rivers at a festival in northern India.

People were trampled as pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s biggest gatherings, gathered where the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers meet, officials said.

Millions continued to throng the site even as police urged them to avoid the area. Deadly stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas.

At least 30 people were killed and another 60 injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival, a six-week Hindu festival and the world’s largest religious gathering.

After atleast 15 people reportedly died in a stampede at Mahakumbh 2025 mela early Wednesday, UP CM Yogi Adityanath urged devotees to not go to Sangam ghat.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urges devotees attending Mahakumbh 2025 to follow safety protocols and guidelines for a peaceful experience. Despite a minor stampede at Sangam Ghat, rescue operations are underway,

At least 15 feared dead in stampede during huge Hindu festival in India - Crush happened as pilgrims tried to jump over police barricades to reach Sangam Nose, the point where India's Ganges river mee

Hours after a massive rush of Hindu pilgrims set off a stampede at the event in northern India early on Wednesday, Indian authorities were yet to release casualty figures – even as the Prime Minister acknowledged the loss of lives and local media reports said 10 people had died.

This isn’t the first time CM Adityanath has led his cabinet to the Sangam. During the Kumbh Mela in 2019, he took a ceremonial dip along with his ministers and other saints.

During his first election rally in Delhi's Kirari, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on Arvind Kejriwal over the Yamuna's pollution. Questioning the AAP government's negligence,

Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh ... saying that the day’s significance lay in bathing anywhere along the Ganges. Adityanath said Modi and Amit Shah, the minister of home ...