STORY: Several feared dead as stampede breaks out at Hindu festival in India
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 29, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 29, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:11
LOCATION: New Delhi
CATEGORY: OTHERS

SHOTLIST:
1. Shots of massive crowd breaking barrier at the festival
2. Shots of local authority trying to control the crowd 
3. Shots of rescue operation by medical team

STORYLINE:

Several people were feared dead and scores injured from a stampede on Wednesday morning at Maha Kumbh Mela, a Hindu mega festival in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

A barrier broke, officials said, when tens of thousands of devotees thronged the Triveni Sangam for a holy dip.

Local authorities so far have not confirmed the number of fatalities, but multiple local media reports put the death toll at above 10. The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital, according to officials.

"People in knowledge of developments told Hindustan Times on condition of anonymity that at least 15 bodies have been brought to the hospital," reported the Hindustan Times, an Indian newspaper.

Asian News International (ANI) reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath twice in one hour following the stampede. The news agency said that federal home minister Amit Shah also spoke to Adityanath and assured him of complete support.

In the wake of the stampede, the holy dip has been called off at that location.

Adityanath has appealed to the devotees to take a dip at their nearest river bank and not try to go towards Sangam. The minister also urged devotees to follow the instructions of Maha Kumbh Mela administrators.

Xinhua News Agency correspondent reporting from New Delhi.
(XHTV)