In Pictures: Stampede at Mahakumbh claims 30 amid rush of devotees on Mauni Amavasya

A stampede-like situation broke out at the Sangam during Maha Kumbh Mela, and multiple casualties were feared as lakhs of pilgrims turned up for the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

Several people were injured and hospitalised after the stampede-like situation arose during the Mauni Amavasya ritual at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

The day of Mauni Amavasya was one of the most significant during the Kumbh Mela, attracting millions for the holy bath, with this year's event made even more special by a rare celestial alignment. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

In response to the stampede-like incident, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad decided to cancel the sacred Amrit Snan event on Mauni Amavasya. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

Saumya Srivastava cries inside an ambulance after receiving the body of her mother, Neelam, who died in a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Harsh Soni (13) cries outside a mortuary after his grandmother, Sheila Soni, died in a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

A girl cries inside an ambulance carrying the body of her relative, Rita, who died in a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Deepali Srivastava consoles Saumya, who lost her mother Neelam Srivastava in a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Jagwanti cries as she takes away the body of her sister-in-law, Rita, who along with her mother Rampati, died in a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Women cry inside a mortuary after the death of their relative in a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

A woman cries outside the mortuary at Motilal Nehru Medical College after a relative died in a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

A family takes the body of their relative, who died in a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Officials stand with an ambulance inside the mortuary at Motilal Nehru Medical College after a stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29, 2025. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

This year’s Mauni Amavasya coincided with the rare 'Triveni Yog' celestial alignment, believed to occur once every 144 years, adding to the spiritual gravity of the event. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

Around 10 crore pilgrims were expected at the Sangam for the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya, with nearly 5 crore already arriving on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

Anticipating a huge influx of people on this occasion, the mela authorities on Tuesday had issued an advisory to the devotees to urging them to follow crowd-management guidelines for safety and convenience.

The Amrit Snan saw seers and saints from three sects — Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen — immersing themselves in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

PM Narendra Modi dialed Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and emphasized the need for immediate action following the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

In this picture, Laxmi grieves for her husband, Hakum (from Chhatarpur, Bihar), who lost his life in the stampede at Sangam ghat on Mauni Amavasya at Maha Kumbh Mela on January 29. (Express photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Amid the stampede-like situation, an ambulance caught fire at the Sangam, adding to the already tense atmosphere as authorities scrambled to manage the chaos. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

After the stampede, UP CM Yogi Adityanath urged pilgrims to take their holy dip at other ghats along the Ganga and directed them to avoid the Sangam area. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, blamed mismanagement for the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh, calling for immediate relief for the injured. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

Authorities actively worked to provide medical care to the injured devotees, with several hospitalised following the stampede-like incident. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)

However, they faced significant challenges in controlling the massive crowd at the Sangam, where tens of millions gathered for the Maha Kumbh rituals. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambati)