More than 50 crore devotees have so far taken a holy dip at Sangam, the point where the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers meet. Roads are choked despite the completion of three significant ‘Amrit Snans’ (holy dips) on the auspicious days of Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, and Basant Panchami. 18 people were killed in a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station, which was caused by a sudden rush of passengers trying to board trains for the Maha Kumbh. Various railway stations across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have now been put on alert after the stampede. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday urged the Uttar Pradesh government to extend the duration of the Maho-Kumbh, citing the overwhelming number of devotees on the roads still hoping to attend. Dubbed the largest religious gathering in the world, it started on January 13 and will continue till February 26.
