Families are grappling with devastating loss after a catastrophic crush at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, has left at least 30 dead. Eyewitness accounts detail harrowing moments when a surge of devotees overwhelmed the crowd, resulting in tragedy on one of the festival's holiest days.
Kaikeyi Devi, who witnessed her husband being trampled before her, shared her heartbreak with reporters. "He was dragged in the chaos, and we started crying… 'Let him be!'...but he never came back," she recounted outside the mortuary. Meanwhile, other families like that of Taposh Roy, who lost his brother in the crush, expressed their frustration at the slow response from authorities during the chaotic aftermath. “He was just lying there for a long time… We pleaded with the police,” he recounted, highlighting the lack of timely rescuers.
The Kumbh Mela is advertised as the largest human gathering globally, drawing millions of pilgrims to its sacred sites. The surge towards the Sangam—where three rivers meet for ritual bathing—led to chaos and fatalities as many devotees were caught off-guard.
Families continue to seek answers, and a judicial inquiry into the crowd control failures is underway as authorities ramp up security measures across the festival to prevent further incidents. In the wake of such tragedy, Deepak Hattarwat faced the immense pain of discovering his wife and daughter had perished, a harsh revelation he learned from a traveling companion.
Manoj Kumar Sahni, still looking for his missing father, expressed despair, stating, “I went to the hospital, but I didn’t find him.” With no identified bodies, some are left questioning their loved ones' fates.
After the crush, the government has imposed restrictions on vehicle access to the festival grounds. With another auspicious bathing day approaching, authorities are preparing for what could be another immense gathering, all while families mourn and remember their lost ones.
