India's mass bathing festival turned the water sour at the 'holy' river, as pollution and waste tainted the area during the event.

The water quality at several locations at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where millions of worshippers take a dip during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela festival, reportedly did not meet primary bathing standards due to high faecal coliform levels.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed the National Green Tribunal on Monday, February 17, that some parts of the river failed to meet water quality standards for bathing.

Faecal coliform is a group of bacteria found in the intestines of humans and animals. Their presence in water suggests contamination from human or animal waste.

Authorities have given the counsel for Uttar Pradesh one day to examine and respond to the report.

Footage shows unfazed devotees immersing themselves in the Triveni Sangam River, some performing rituals with devotion.

Since 2015, the country's rivers have become more polluted. The CPCB identified at least 302 polluted stretches across more than 12,000 km of rivers in India. By 2018, this number grew to 351 polluted stretches, with 61 being heavily polluted.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu pilgrimage festival where millions of devotees and tourists gather to take a holy dip in the sacred rivers, believing it cleanses sins and grants salvation.

However, the resulting chaos has led to dozens of deaths and injuries.

In a recent incident on the evening of February 15, thousands of devotees flocking to the festival caused a stampede that killed at least 20 people at a railway station in New Delhi.

Officials said 14 women and four children were killed when crowds tried to board packed carriages heading to the Hindu Maha Kumbh event.

Earlier, on January 29, millions had gathered at the Maha Kumbh Mela for a holy dip when disorder broke out around 1:30 am. Police confirmed that at least 30 devotees were killed, and 60 others were injured.

Authorities had expected at least 450 million devotees to participate in the holy dip during the 45-day event this year, a number that has already been exceeded.