Eyewitnesses and hospital sources have told the BBC that at least a dozen worshippers have been killed in a crowd crush at the Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, India.
The incident took place between 1am and 2am local time (19:30 and 20:30GMT) when it is believed some pilgrims tried to jump over police barricades to reach Sangam Nose, the point where India’s most sacred river Ganges meets Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
Devotees believe that bathing in the river will cleanse their sins and help attain salvation.
Wednesday was billed as the most important day for bathing during the festival, and officials expected up to 100 million people would attend.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in a post on X (formerly Twitter) offered his condolences to devotees who have lost family members.
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