List of dead soon, verifying reports of second incident: Kumbh DIG on Prayagraj stampede

The constabulary determination follows reports of a panic concern successful the Jhusi country soon aft the stampede astatine the Sangam Nose, the portion of onshore astatine the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. Police had earlier denied claims by immoderate shopkeepers of a stampede-like concern and nonaccomplishment of lives successful Jhusi.

Asked astir the number of stampede victims, DIG Krishna maintained that 30 radical had died. He said a database of the dormant was apt to beryllium released Saturday. The UP authorities has announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh for the kin of each idiosyncratic who died successful the stampede.

Relatives of the dormant victims are waiting for the bodies extracurricular the postmortem location astatine SRM Medical College successful Prayagraj. (Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav)

Residents and shopkeepers of the Jhusi country told The Indian Express that determination was chaos Wednesday astatine the Sector 21 crossing aft connection dispersed astir the stampede astatine the Sangam Nose.

Raju Nishad, 34, a snack vendor, said: “Around 6.30 am, connected my mode to my chana cart, I noticed a ample assemblage astatine the Sector 21 crossing. This was due to the fact that determination were  radical were coming successful ample numbers from some directions.” He said determination was lone 1 way for devotees coming to the Kumbh and leaving the venue, and this led to commotion.

People look for their belongings aft the stampede astatine the Maha Kumbh successful Prayagraj. (Source: Reuters)

Shiv Charan Bharti, a beverage stall owner, said, “Police were deployed successful the country but the assemblage was truthful ample that they could not negociate it.”

Describing the incident, Saurabh Mishra, a nonmigratory who claimed to beryllium a witnesser to the chaos, said helium heard women and children screaming.

“Suddenly, immoderate devotees, including children and women, fell. Their household members, trying to prevention them, besides fell. There was chaos successful astatine the spot,” said 32-year-old Mishra, who works astatine a backstage steadfast successful Prayagraj.

Officials basal with an ambulance wrong the mortuary astatine Motilal Nehru Medical College aft a stampede astatine Maha Kumbh Mela connected Mauni Amavasya successful Prayagraj. (Express photograph by Chitral Khambhati)

Ashok Nishad, who has a beverage store not acold from the Sector 21 crossing, said, “In the chaos, respective radical entered a sweetshop astatine the junction. The concern was brought nether power aft further forces arrived. We saw respective radical lying connected the roadworthy and belongings scattered everywhere. A policewoman started crying arsenic a assemblage surrounded her, questioning wherefore she had reached late.”

“People shouted astatine officials who showed up. A crane was brought to wide the scattered belongings, including clothes, shoes and slippers. The medication cleared the country wrong 2 hours. It was hard to archer that an incidental had occurred there,” helium said.