Millions take part at the Kumbh Mela festival in India

Millions of Hindus have gathered in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh Mela festival, just a day after a tragic crowd crush resulted in numerous fatalities at the world's largest religious gathering.

Train and bus stations in the city experienced a significant influx of people as attendees continued to arrive for the festival, although some devotees expressed concern following the deadly incident.

Krishna Soni, a student from Bikaner in the western state of Rajasthan, and his family of eight tied themselves together with a string to prevent getting separated in the vast crowd.

Authorities reported that 30 individuals lost their lives in the crush on Wednesday, while 60 sustained injuries.

The Mahakumbh Mela, which occurs every 12 years, is anticipated to attract around 400 million devotees this year, according to official estimates.

The festival is being held in a temporary township spanning 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) on the riverbanks, an area equivalent to 7,500 football fields.

Approximately 150,000 tents have been set up to accommodate devotees, with nearly the same number of toilets available.