Families of victims of the recent Kumbh Mela tragedy in Prayagraj, India, find themselves enveloped in sorrow after a horrific crush during the festival claimed the lives of at least 30 people. With millions of pilgrims attending this sacred event, the Kumbh Mela is known for its sheer scale as devotees gather at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers to take holy dips for spiritual cleansing.
Eyewitness accounts point to a sudden surge of the crowd that trampled over those who had temporarily rested by the riverbanks. Many families waiting at the mortuary reported poor crowd control, singling out police and festival authorities for their inadequacies during the chaos that ensued. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a judicial inquiry into the incident to ascertain the reasons behind the mismanagement.
Kaikeyi Devi, who traveled from Bihar with her husband, recounted the horrifying moment she witnessed him getting crushed in front of her. “He was dragged in the chaos, and amid our cries for help, he never returned to us,” she mournfully shared with Reuters. Other families echoed similar frustrations in the wake of the disaster, recounting the lengthy delays in medical assistance and their desperate attempts to secure help for their loved ones.
Taposh Roy, a bereaved brother from Assam, described the agonizing hours as his brother lay on the ground, waiting for an ambulance that never arrived, while Tarun Bose from West Bengal criticized the police response, highlighting that authorities only managed to recover his female relative's body after an hour and a half.
The shockwaves of the event continue to resonate, with some families still desperately searching for missing relatives. Manoj Kumar Sahni from Bihar expressed his ongoing search for his father, indicating the widespread pain inflicted by this tragedy.
Amid the mourning, festival organizers have increased security and limited vehicle access to the Kumbh Mela grounds, anticipating large crowds for the next auspicious bathing day expected on Monday. As families await answers, the necessity for safety measures remains a pressing concern at this revered spiritual gathering.
Eyewitness accounts point to a sudden surge of the crowd that trampled over those who had temporarily rested by the riverbanks. Many families waiting at the mortuary reported poor crowd control, singling out police and festival authorities for their inadequacies during the chaos that ensued. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a judicial inquiry into the incident to ascertain the reasons behind the mismanagement.
Kaikeyi Devi, who traveled from Bihar with her husband, recounted the horrifying moment she witnessed him getting crushed in front of her. “He was dragged in the chaos, and amid our cries for help, he never returned to us,” she mournfully shared with Reuters. Other families echoed similar frustrations in the wake of the disaster, recounting the lengthy delays in medical assistance and their desperate attempts to secure help for their loved ones.
Taposh Roy, a bereaved brother from Assam, described the agonizing hours as his brother lay on the ground, waiting for an ambulance that never arrived, while Tarun Bose from West Bengal criticized the police response, highlighting that authorities only managed to recover his female relative's body after an hour and a half.
The shockwaves of the event continue to resonate, with some families still desperately searching for missing relatives. Manoj Kumar Sahni from Bihar expressed his ongoing search for his father, indicating the widespread pain inflicted by this tragedy.
Amid the mourning, festival organizers have increased security and limited vehicle access to the Kumbh Mela grounds, anticipating large crowds for the next auspicious bathing day expected on Monday. As families await answers, the necessity for safety measures remains a pressing concern at this revered spiritual gathering.
