Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
BBC News, Mumbai
The families of people who were killed in a crush at an important religious festival in northern India this week are crying their loss and hoping to take their relatives’ bodies home.
At least 30 people deceased In the falling of the Kumbh Mela on Wednesday, which was one of the most sacred days of the six -day life Hindu festival.
The incident took place in the city of Prayagraj near Sangam, an auspicious meeting point of the Sacred Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers where the devotees immerse themselves.
The festival, announced as the largest humanity meeting, attracts dozens of millions of pilgrims around the world.
WARNING: History has details that some readers can find distressing
According to the reports, the Crush took place after a wave of pilgrims who headed to Sangam trampled on the devotees that slept near the riverbank.
Eye witnesses have blamed the police and festival authorities for the poor crowd control measures and have not made an adequate space for pilgrims to move to their destinations.
The government in the state of Uttar Pradesh has launched a judicial investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, the families of the victims are mourning for the loss of their loved ones and some say that many of their questions remain unanswered. Others are still waiting for their relatives.
Kaikeyi Devi, who traveled from the state of Bihar with her husband to attend Kumbh Mela, says he can’t shake the image that he was trampled in front of his eyes.
“He was dragged into chaos and we started crying … ‘Leave it free! Let him be! In the city of Prayagraj to collect her husband’s body.
Taposh Roy, a resident of the State of Assam who lost his brother in crushing, recounts the delay in obtaining help from the authorities.
“He was lying there for a long time because there was no ambulance to take him to the hospital. We beg Roy said to the Indian Express newspaper.
This was also Tarun Bose’s experience of the Western Bengal state that lost a female relative in crushing.
“The authorities could not rescue her and the police only managed to recover their body after an hour and a half. There were no police officers during the accident,” he told the AFP news agency.
Deepak Hattarwat of the state of Karnataka is mourning for the loss of his wife and daughter. He did not travel to the festival and says that he learned of his deaths only one day later and that also a travel companion in his group.
“We were planning her wedding (the daughter). What should I do and who should live for now?” Hattarwat told the Indian Express newspaper.
Meanwhile, some people say they are still looking for their loved ones, more than 48 hours after the incident.
MANJ KUMAR SAHNI of the state of Bihar told Reuters News Agency that he has been desperately looking for his father who is missing.
“I’ve been looking for it since the last three days. I also went to the hospital but I didn’t find it. We also wanted at the train station and in the bus position, but I didn’t find it,” he said.
Since the incident, the authorities have intensified security measures at the festival and have also prohibited vehicles from entering Mela land until February 4. The next auspicious bathroom is Monday, when the festival is expected to witness massive crowds.