Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took holy dips in sacred river waters in the northern city of Prayagraj on Wednesday as he joined millions of people at the Maha Kumbh Mela, a week after dozens died in a stampede at the event.

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.

Prayagraj: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday visited the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. He also took a holy dip at Triveni Sangam. The prime minister held 'rudraksh' beads in his hand during the bathing ritual.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the Lok Sabha, accusing the government of neglecting the demands for a two-minute silence for the victims of the January 29 Maha Kumbh stampede.

Drawn by the spiritual grandeur of the Maha Kumbh, a group of 68 Hindu devotees from Pakistan's Sindh province arrived in Prayagraj on Thursday and took a holy dip at the Sangam, praying for the peace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam and said he felt "blessed to be at the Maha Kumbh" where he was "filled with a spirit of devotion"