It was the peak moment at one of the holiest gatherings on the Hindu calendar — the Maha Kumbh Mela, a 45-day celebration that brings hundreds of millions of the faithful to bathe in the joined Ganges and Yamuna rivers, washing away their sins.

Anticipating record attendance, Indian officials said they were employing new technology to help regulate the crowds at this year’s pilgrimage. But nothing was capable of keeping up with the rush as Tuesday turned to Wednesday, when an estimated 100 million came to the waters over just a handful of hours and then suddenly dashed to leave in a deadly panic.