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Deadly Stampede At Hindu Festival In India Leaves 15 Dead
A devastating pre-dawn stampede at the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, left at least 15 people dead and dozens more injured early Wednesday.
The tragedy has been traced to a surging crowd breaking through police barriers, trampling bystanders in a chaotic manner.
The tragic incident occurred around 1:00 am local time (1930 GMT Tuesday) as millions of Hindu pilgrims rushed to participate in a sacred ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
Many of the victims were people resting on the ground when the crowd surged forward in the darkness.
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“I was sitting near a barricade, and during the pushing and shoving, the entire crowd fell on top of me, trampling me as it moved forward,” said 48-year-old pilgrim Renu Devi. “When the crowd surged, elderly people and women were crushed, and no one came forward to help.”
Emergency teams quickly responded, carrying victims away on stretchers as discarded shoes, clothing, and personal belongings littered the area.
Authorities have yet to release an official death toll, but a doctor treating survivors at a nearby hospital confirmed “at least 15 people” had died, with many more injured.
The doctor spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the tragedy as “extremely sad” and extended his “deepest condolences” to the families of the victims. “I wish for the speedy recovery of all injured,” he added.
Meanwhile, political opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the authorities, blaming the disaster on poor crowd control.
“Mismanagement and the administration’s special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident,” he wrote on social media.
The six-week Kumbh Mela is one of the holiest events in the Hindu calendar, drawing tens of millions of devotees.
Wednesday was a particularly significant bathing day, with saffron-clad holy men leading mass rituals.
However, in the aftermath of the stampede, festival officials patrolled the grounds with loudspeakers, urging pilgrims to stay away from the main bathing area.
“We humbly request all devotees do not come to the main bathing spot,” one official announced over a megaphone. “Please cooperate with security personnel.”
Despite the warnings, state officials reported that millions of pilgrims had already taken their ritual baths between midnight and early morning.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that medical workers were treating the seriously injured and assured the public that the situation was “under control.”
The Kumbh Mela is a logistical challenge of enormous scale.
Organizers had likened this year’s event to the size of a temporary nation, with an estimated 400 million pilgrims expected by the festival’s end on February 26.
To manage the crowds, authorities installed hundreds of surveillance cameras and drones to monitor congestion.
However, stampedes at religious events remain a deadly risk in India. In 1954, over 400 people died in a single day at the Kumbh Mela, marking one of the deadliest crowd disasters in history.
More recently, in 2013, another 36 pilgrims lost their lives in a similar tragedy in Prayagraj.
Despite the security measures in place, Wednesday’s stampede has once again raised concerns about crowd management at massive religious gatherings.
As frightened devotees began leaving Prayagraj, railway official Manish Kumar reported that several special train services had been halted due to excessive crowding.
“I heard the news and saw the bathing site,” said festival attendee Sanjay Nishad. “My family got scared, so we’re leaving.”
A devastating fire has swept through a girls’ boarding school in central Kenya, leaving at least 16 students dead and dozens more injured in one of the country’s worst school tragedies in recent years.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday at Utumishi Girls Academy, located in Nakuru County, roughly 120 kilometres north of Nairobi. Authorities said the fire broke out around 1:00 a.m. while about 220 students were asleep inside the dormitory.
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Emergency responders, including the Kenyan Red Cross and local security agencies, rushed to the scene and evacuated survivors.
At least 73 students have been hospitalised with varying degrees of burns and smoke inhalation, while rescue operations and search efforts continued into the morning.
Police sources said the cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigations have been launched to determine what triggered the deadly blaze.
The affected dormitory has since been cordoned off as forensic teams examine the scene.
Parents gathered anxiously outside the school as authorities worked to account for all students. Officials have urged calm, assuring that full details will be released once investigations are completed.
The tragedy adds to a troubling history of school dormitory fires in Kenya, where boarding schools remain common.
In previous years, similar incidents have raised serious concerns about safety standards and emergency preparedness in educational institutions.
Government officials are expected to revisit school safety regulations following the latest disaster.
Global oil prices climbed sharply on Thursday following reports of a new United States military strike on Iran, raising fresh concerns over stability in the Middle East and possible disruptions to global energy supplies.
Brent crude rose significantly in early trading, while West Texas Intermediate also recorded gains as investors reacted to renewed hostilities and uncertainty around the fragile ceasefire in the region.
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According to reports, the latest US action included targeted strikes on Iranian positions following a series of drone and maritime incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military described its operations as “measured and defensive,” aimed at preventing further escalation and protecting strategic interests in the region.
The developments triggered immediate reactions across global financial markets, with Asian stocks mostly declining amid fears that prolonged conflict could disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route for nearly a fifth of global crude supply.
Market analysts warn that sustained instability could push energy prices even higher, fueling inflationary pressures worldwide and potentially forcing central banks to maintain tighter monetary policies.
In Asia, major indices recorded losses, while tech-driven gains in select markets were overshadowed by broader investor caution. Safe-haven assets strengthened slightly as traders moved away from riskier positions.
Economists say the situation remains highly volatile, with conflicting signals from Washington and Tehran adding to uncertainty.
Any further escalation, they caution, could send oil prices even higher and deepen global economic pressure.
For now, investors are closely watching diplomatic developments and military activity in the region, as the world braces for possible further shocks to energy markets.
The United States has issued its strongest travel advisory against Uganda, warning citizens to completely avoid travel to the country due to an ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus disease.
In the updated alert, the United States Department of State upgraded Uganda’s travel status to Level 4, the highest risk classification, which is widely understood as a “Do Not Travel” warning.
The decision was based on serious health threats and the rapid spread of the virus in affected areas.
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Authorities also warned of the risk of cross-border transmission, noting that continued movement across neighbouring countries could worsen the situation despite ongoing containment efforts.
Previously, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had placed Uganda under a lower-level health advisory, advising travellers to take standard precautions.
However, a surge in infections and deteriorating conditions led to the tightening of restrictions.
Meanwhile, Ugandan authorities have stepped up emergency response measures, including stricter border surveillance, movement restrictions in affected zones, and reductions in public transportation and market activities in high-risk areas.
Health agencies remain on high alert as the outbreak continues to raise concern over possible regional spread across East Africa.
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