Families across India are grappling with immense sorrow after a deadly crush at the Kumbh Mela, a significant Hindu pilgrimage festival held in Prayagraj. The incident occurred on what was deemed one of the holiest days of the six-week festival, with a devastating toll of at least 30 lives lost.
As evening fell, Kaikeyi Devi recounted the traumatic moment she witnessed her husband being trampled in the chaos. "He was dragged in the chaos and we started crying… 'Let him free! Let him be! We are here!'...but he never came [back]," she shared, waiting outside a mortuary to collect her husband's body.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the crush stemmed from thousands of pilgrims rushing toward the sacred Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, where many seek a holy dip. Reports have emerged blaming inadequate crowd control by police and festival organizers for the tragedy, igniting calls for an inquiry.
The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a judicial investigation into the incident. In the midst of mourning, families are left with unanswered questions and the search for missing relatives continues. Manoj Kumar Sahni expressed his desperation, stating, "I have been searching for him since the last three days. I went to the hospital as well but didn't find him."
Reports from multiple grieving families revealed distressing delays in medical assistance following the crush, intensifying their grief. Taposh Roy lamented, “He was just lying there for a long time because there was no ambulance to take him to the hospital.”
Deepak Hattarwat, who lost both his wife and daughter, received the news of his tragic loss a day later from a fellow traveler, further compounding the anguish within his family as they had been preparing for his daughter's wedding.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities have heightened security measures at the festival, banning vehicle access to the grounds until February 4. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the next auspicious bathing day, which is expected to draw even larger crowds, raising concerns about the safety of attendees.
As the community continues to mourn, many families are left searching for comfort amidst the chaos of tragedy, hoping for answers that may never come.
