People were trampled as pilgrims at the Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s biggest gatherings, gathered where the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers meet, officials said.

At least 17 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede at India's Maha Kumbh festival, the world's largest religious gathering, a doctor at a government hospital said, as tens of thousands of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred river waters during the Hindu event.

It was not immediately clear what triggered the panic at the festival where devotees from across India had congregated to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.

Millions of Hindus are gathering in a northern Indian city for the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious congregation.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi condemned organisers for "mismanagement" and a "focus on VIP movement" which he blamed for the deaths. Others, including Prayagraj local Rekha Verma, pointed the finger at heavy-handed tactics by "rude and abusive" police officers to keep immense throngs of devotees in line.

After dozens of people were killed in a crowd crush at the world's largest religious gathering, questions have been raised about security and crowd control at massive events in India.

Hindu devotees and mystics have gathered in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh festival, which is the largest religious congregation on Earth. Nearly 400 million people