At least 30 lives were claimed in a harrowing crush during the sacred Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, leaving devastated families to grapple with their losses as authorities face scrutiny over crowd control.
Tragedy Strikes Kumbh Mela: Families Left Devastated by Festival Crush
Tragedy Strikes Kumbh Mela: Families Left Devastated by Festival Crush
Mourning families are left searching for answers after a deadly incident at a major Hindu festival in India.
Families of the deceased are grappling with unbearable grief following the tragic crush at the Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, India, which claimed at least 30 lives on one of the event’s holiest days. The Kumbh Mela, known as the world’s largest religious gathering, attracts millions of pilgrims each year who come to take a holy dip in the confluence of three rivers—the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.
Survivors reported that a surge of devotees overwhelmed the area, leading to chaotic scenes where victims were trampled, sparking outrage about the lack of adequate crowd control measures by authorities. Eyewitness Kaikeyi Devi, who witnessed her husband’s death, shared her harrowing experience, emphasizing the chaos that ensued. “We started crying… ‘Let him be free! Let him be!’ but he never came [back],” she said, complexly shaken by the loss.
Grieving families wait in distress, seeking the return of their loved ones’ bodies while others continue to search for missing relatives. Taposh Roy from Assam lamented how his brother lay unattended due to a delay in police response, while Tarun Bose expressed his frustration over the authorities’ failure to rescue his relative in time.
In a tragic twist, Deepak Hattarwat learned of the deaths of his wife and daughter through a fellow traveler, leaving him shattered and at a loss. “We were planning her wedding. What should I do now?” he asked. Meanwhile, Manoj Kumar Sahni is still on the hunt for his father, missing three days post-incident.
As the festival authorities ramp up security and ban vehicles from entering festival grounds, the affected families remain haunted by the personal void left by the tragedy, with the next auspicious bathing day expected to draw significant crowds once again.
Survivors reported that a surge of devotees overwhelmed the area, leading to chaotic scenes where victims were trampled, sparking outrage about the lack of adequate crowd control measures by authorities. Eyewitness Kaikeyi Devi, who witnessed her husband’s death, shared her harrowing experience, emphasizing the chaos that ensued. “We started crying… ‘Let him be free! Let him be!’ but he never came [back],” she said, complexly shaken by the loss.
Grieving families wait in distress, seeking the return of their loved ones’ bodies while others continue to search for missing relatives. Taposh Roy from Assam lamented how his brother lay unattended due to a delay in police response, while Tarun Bose expressed his frustration over the authorities’ failure to rescue his relative in time.
In a tragic twist, Deepak Hattarwat learned of the deaths of his wife and daughter through a fellow traveler, leaving him shattered and at a loss. “We were planning her wedding. What should I do now?” he asked. Meanwhile, Manoj Kumar Sahni is still on the hunt for his father, missing three days post-incident.
As the festival authorities ramp up security and ban vehicles from entering festival grounds, the affected families remain haunted by the personal void left by the tragedy, with the next auspicious bathing day expected to draw significant crowds once again.
