Nearly 40 reported dead in stampede at India's Maha Kumbh Mela

A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, resulted in nearly 40 bodies being brought to a hospital morgue as tens of millions gathered for a sacred bathing ritual. Witnesses reported chaos as crowds surged towards the confluence of three rivers, leading to suffocation and injuries among devotees. Senior police officials indicated that the exact casualty numbers could not be confirmed immediately due to ongoing crowd management efforts. Eyewitness accounts described a scene of desperation, with individuals collapsing and being trampled as they sought escape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families affected and emphasized that local officials are assisting the victims. The incident, which occurred around 1 a.m. local time, has raised concerns over crowd safety at large-scale religious gatherings.