• Mou Mou
• 30 Jan, 2025

In the sacred waters of Prayagraj where devotees from across India and beyond came to take part in the grand Mahakumbh, a tragic stampede left many families devastated. Several pilgrims from West Bengal found themselves in the midst of chaos - some lost their loved ones, others are still searching for missing family members. The spiritual journey meant to be a time of devotion turned into an ordeal of grief and helplessness.

Context

Thousands of devotees from West Bengal traveled to Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh hoping to attain spiritual blessings. However the massive crowd and lack of control led to a horrific stampede.

Surajit Poddar a resident of Bengal was among the unfortunate victims. He had traveled with his mother, aunt and sister to participate in the holy bath. In the chaos his mother Basanti Poddar was tragically crushed under the stampede. A devastated Surajit recalled, “No one was listening, people just kept pushing forward.” His aunt in tears, said, “We were left behind and there was no one to help us. Surajit tried but it was impossible.”

A similar fate befell a family from Barasat, North 24 Parganas. An elderly woman broke down in despair as she recounted how her sister and niece were critically injured and hospitalised. “We came for blessings, but now my family is fighting for their lives,” she sobbed.

Dinesh Pandit a young man from Siliguri was among those injured in the stampede. Overwhelmed by the crushing crowd he lost consciousness. His mother Hiramati Pandit shared his terrifying experience, “He told me he couldn't breathe. He was barely saved by people who poured water on him to revive him.”

The fear was so intense that many like Sumanta Saha decided not to even approach the main bathing site. “It's impossible to get through. The roads are flooded with people and so many are still missing,” he said.

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Impact & Questions

The Maha Kumbh attracts millions of devotees from around the world making it one of the largest religious gatherings on the planet. However the tragedy raises serious concerns about safety measures. Despite widespread promotion of the event, why was crowd control neglected.? Who will take responsibility for the lives lost.?