15 dead in India Kumbh Mela stampede

ALLAHABAD: At least 15 people have died after a stampede at a railway station near India's huge Kumbh Mela festival.

AFP adds: "The district administration have confirmed four deaths," Prabhat Mittal, director of information for the state of Uttar Pradesh said.

The NDTV news channel screened footage from the scene at Allahabad station, showing numerous bodies on the platform following the incident which happened as pilgrims headed home.

Thirty million people had gathered at the festival on Sunday for its most auspicious day.

Local officials confirmed at least four deaths to AFP and said the accident had occurred when iron railings on a bridge at the station gave way due to the pressure of the crowd.

"People were taking rest on these railings and the railings could not take the load.

The joints broke," state spokesman Ashok Sharma told AFP. Other Indian television channels put the death toll as high as 15.

The stampede came shortly after organisers had declared the day a success after millions had taken a bath in the holy waters of the nearby river Ganges, which is said to cleanse pilgrims of their sins.