At least 30 people have been killed in a crush at the world's largest religious gathering, the Hindu festival Kumbh Mela in northern India, officials say. The incident took place early on Wednesday when devotees on the riverbanks in the city of Prayagraj were trampled by other pilgrims rushing to take part in a sacred day of ritual bathing.

A senior police officer said at least 30 people died as a crowd panicked at the Hindu Kumbh Mela mega-festival in the northern city of Prayagraj.

PRAYAGRAJ- At least 30 people were killed and dozens more injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in here on January 29. The incident occurred as millions of Hindu pilgrims gathered to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.