Hindu devotees have sacred marks reading 'Radhe' on their foreheads at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati rivers during the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Credit: AP/Ashwini Bhatia

The Hindu festival that turned deadly in northern India on Wednesday is a religious gathering with deep spiritual meaning for devotees who come by the millions to take a cleansing dip in waters they consider sacred.

Officials had been preparing for months for the world’s largest religious festival, with around 400 million Hindu pilgrims expected to take part

The fire was reported in Sector-22 of the Maha Kumbh district near Chatnag Ghat. The devotees are reported safe and evacuated from the site of the fire.

A tragic stampede occurred at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries as crowds gathered for Mauni Amavasya. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep sorrow and urged devotees to remain calm and follow local administration's guidance.