Train and bus stations saw a surge in crowds as people continued to arrive for the festival, although some devotees remained nervous after the deadly crush.

More than nine million people took a "holy dip" at the confluence of three sacred rivers. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Millions of devout Hindus thronged the northern Indian city of Prayagraj on Thursday for the Maha Kumbh festival, a day after dozens died in a stampede on the most auspicious day of the six-week event.

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Over 45.11 lakh pilgrims visited the Mahakumbh till 8 am on Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh Information Department said in a release.

Milind Soman wrote, "These are the moments that make you realise the importance of our very insignificant existence"

Millions of devout Hindus thronged the northern Indian city of Prayagraj on Thursday (Jan 30) for the Maha Kumbh festival, a day after dozens died in a stampede on the most auspicio

Nearly 40 people were killed in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday and several others injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela - a Hindu religious festival touted to be the largest human gathering in the world.

Many were feared dead after millions of Hindu pilgrims at a huge Hindu festival in India rushed to bathe in holy river waters.