MANDI (Munish Sood)
Hemlata, a 38-year-old Anganwadi worker from Rajana village in Sangrah area of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district, was among the 30 pilgrims who died during the stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj three days ago.
The mother-of-three had travelled with her husband to Prayagraj, seeking spiritual solace in the holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
Despite being rushed to a medical facility, she was declared dead upon arrival. The loss of Hemlata has left her family shattered, with three young children now bereft of their mother’s care.
Last rites performed in Prayagraj
Her last rites were performed in Prayagraj itself, while back in Himachal, her family and relatives have been mourning the untimely demise of a dedicated worker and loving mother.
The Brahmin Sabha Renuka Ji has appealed to the government and local authorities to provide financial assistance and support to Hemlata’s grieving family, emphasising the emotional and economic burden her loss has placed on her dependents.
In the pre-dawn period on January 29, 2025, chaos erupted during the Mauni Amavasya Snan, one of the most auspicious bathing days. A massive stampede near the Sangam area claimed the lives of at least 30 devotees and left over 60 injured.
Requests of devotees to open gates were ignored
Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene where panic spread rapidly due to overcrowding and poor crowd control measures. Devotees, feeling suffocated, pleaded with security personnel to open additional exit routes.
Their requests were reportedly ignored and the growing pressure from behind led to people falling and being trampled in the crush. The confusion was further fueled by the absence of clear evacuation plans, making rescue efforts challenging.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, announcing a judicial inquiry to investigate the cause of the stampede. Financial compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each deceased victim was declared to provide immediate relief.
However, the state government faced criticism after Sanjay Nishad, the Minister of Fisheries, controversially referred to the stampede as a “minor incident”, downplaying the severity of the tragedy. His remarks sparked outrage among the public and political circles alike.
History of past tragedies during Kumbh
The 2025 Maha Kumbh stampede is not an isolated incident. The festival has witnessed similar disasters in the past due to poor crowd management:
- 1954, Allahabad: Over 800 people lost their lives in one of the deadliest stampedes in Kumbh history.
- 2010, Haridwar: A stampede claimed the lives of seven devotees.
- 2013, Allahabad Railway Station: A tragic stampede resulted in 36 deaths as pilgrims rushed to board trains.
These recurring tragedies raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of safety measures implemented during such massive gatherings. Despite technological advancements and better infrastructure, the failure to manage human crowds effectively continues to claim innocent lives.
