PRAYAGRAJ, India, Jan. 29 -- A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India claimed the lives of at least 30 people and left many others injured early Wednesday, according to police. The incident occurred as millions of Hindu pilgrims gathered for a ritual bath at the confluence of three rivers in Prayagraj.

Police official Vaibhav Krishna reported that 60 people sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment. The stampede took place on a particularly auspicious day in the six-week-long festival, with authorities estimating a turnout of 100 million devotees seeking spiritual purification through the holy dip.

According to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the chaos began when pilgrims attempted ...