Sunday, February 10, 2013

At Least 10 Feared Dead at Rel. Festival in India; Due to Collapse of Footbridge Near Ganges River

At least 10 people were feared dead and 30 more were injured today (February 10, 2013), after a stampede broke out at a train station in the northern Indian town of  Allahabad where millions of devout Hindus gathered for a religious festival, according to the Canada website.

New Delhi Television channel reported that the stampede broke out after a footbridge at the Allahabad train station collapsed today, and said at least 10 people were feared dead. CNN IBN news channel said at least 20 were feared dead.

An estimated 30 million devotees were expected to take a dip at the Sangam, the confluence of three rivers -- the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati -- today, one of the holiest bathing days of the Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival. The festival -- which lasts 55 days -- is the world's largest religious gathering.

Devout Hindus believe a dip in the sacred river on one of these days will wash away their sins and free them from the cycle of death and rebirth.

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