15 people lost their lives in a stampede at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India on Wednesday morning. At least 70 people were injured in the stampede, according to Indian media.

The incident took place during the 'Amritsnan' on the occasion of Mouni Amavasya or Magh Krishna Aunsi on Wednesday. According to the BBC citing eyewitnesses, the stampede broke out after the crowd broke the fences and obstacles at the confluence of the rivers.

It is reported that the incident took place between 1 and 2 am on Wednesday after some pilgrims tried to go to the Sangam after passing through the checkpoints kept by the police. According to officials, 30 million people had bathed by 8 am.

The Indian government has not yet given official information about the number of people who lost their lives in the fair. But the condolence given by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi through social media has confirmed that some people have died.

'The accident at Prayagraj Mahakumbh is very sad . I express my deepest condolences to the devotees who lost their loved ones in this," Modi wrote on social media. He says that he is in touch with the state government about the incident.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has confirmed that there has been a stampede. But he did not mention anything about the number of casualties. 

Opposition party leaders have criticized the government for the accident. They claim that the accident happened because the government could not manage the devotees at the fair.

The leader of the main opposition party Congress, Rahul Gandhi, has claimed that the tragedy happened because of the disorder and the behavior of the administration that only pays attention to VIPs. 

Since Kumbh Mela started on January 13, 200 million people have bathed till now. During the 6-week-long fair, Hindu devotees bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the legendary Saraswati rivers, which are considered the holiest rivers in India. 

Bathing in the confluence of holy rivers is believed to absolve sins and purify the soul. It is estimated that around 400 million pilgrims will bathe in Kumbh Mela, which lasts for 45 days. It is said that the procession of devotees participating in the fair can be seen from space . 

The fair that ends on the day of Shivratri has been recognized as an intangible heritage of humanity by the United Nations agency UNESCO. The origin of the Kumbh Mela is based on the mythological story of the battle between the Gods and the Demons over the Kumbh of nectar created during the churning of the ocean . It is believed that some drops of nectar fell in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik in India during the fight between the two sides over the pot of nectar.

Mela is held in all the four cities, but the biggest fair is held in Prayagraj. Since the battle lasted for 12 astronomical years, Kumbh Mela is celebrated in four cities every 12 years on Earth. 

This festival is said to be special because the planets and stars are aligned. This year's fair is called Mahakumbha because such perfection was seen after 12 Kumbh festivals or 144 years.

In India, religious events, fairs and public places are crowded. Many people have lost their lives in the incidents of stampede that happen frequently during those fairs. Three weeks ago, six people were killed in a stampede at the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, India.