The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a judicial probe into the deaths of at least 30 people in stampedes at India’s Kumbh Mela festival, where millions of Hindu devotees gathered for a ritual bath at the confluence of three sacred rivers.

Maha Kumbh 2025, the world's largest religious gathering, is expected to attract over 40 crore devotees over 45 days. The Vidya Kumbh initiative, seamlessly integrated into this grand event, exemplifies the blending of cultural heritage with social welfare.

More than seven people were killed and around 10 injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday, said an official, as tens of millions gathered to take a holy dip on the most auspicious day of the six-week Hindu festival.