The latest Mahakumbh Stampede has shaken families to their core, as many are frantically looking for their lost ones. Even in the scale of the disaster, the UP government has come under attack for their tardy reaction, lack of updated casualty count and alleged mismanagement of the programme. Survivors and witnesses claim VIP culture played a major role in the disaster, with key routes blocked for high-profile attendees, leading to chaos.
Families Desperate for Information
One of the many survivors is Deepak Paswan, 25-year-old, Gorakhpur, who is looking for his lost mother Binda, 60. They were going towards the Sangam when pandemonium broke out and he lost her in the throng. Since that time, Deepak has been looking in hospitals, lost-and-found camps and morgues with no success.
Also, suraj Kumar Sen from bihar is frantically searching his relative, 40 years old female, Sushila Devi. Lots of other families are sitting through the same experience frantically looking for one another.
Unfortunately, the delay in DEATH CERTIFICATE issue is also one of the saddest of the whole scenario. Awatar Singh of Bihar reports that his 60-year-old aunt was pronounced deceased at a hospital, yet the authorities have refused to issue a death certificate. Childless, the family is deprived of the right to claim compensation or.
Government Response: Too Little, Too Late
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took 17 hours to acknowledge the stampede deaths, initially stating 30 dead and 60 injured. However, these figures have not been updated, raising concerns about the accuracy of the toll.
Adityanath proclaimed a ₹25 lakh ex gratia compensation to each victim’s family, but insomuch as the toll remains unrevised most believe that the affected families shall not receive it.
Allegations of VIP Favoritism
Witnesses claim that the administration blocked pontoon bridges before the 4 AM Brahm Muhurt (auspicious moment) for the Shahi Snan (holy dip), despite knowing that crowds had been swelling since 11 PM. It is thought that the decision was made to isolate both the VIPs and top sadhus from the holy bath.
Though MahakumbhDIG Vaibhav Krishna denied VIP involvement at the time of the stampede, eyewitnesses have dismissed this as a “smart lie. Officials confirm that over 2 lakh sadhus, including figures like Baba Ramdev (Z-category security) and Avadheshanand Giri (Juna Akhara head), were given dedicated routes to the Sangam. Politicians and Bollywood film stars were also expected to show up at the event.
A Provincial Civil Services officer, speaking anonymously, admitted that several MPs, including BJP’s Hema Malini, were eager to take the bath alongside the sadhus.
Fire Exposes Unauthorized VIP Lodgings
To everyone’s surprise, inquiry into a pause on Thursday found that 118 illegal deluxe cottages had come up on governments land in Sector 22, Phulpur, near to the Mahakumbh site. These were rented out at ₹18,000 per night*, but authorities are unsure who authorized their construction.
‘VIP Syndrome’ & U-Turns by Authorities
But just after announcing a ban on VIP movement, District Magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand went on record saying that Vp Jagdeep Dhankhar and 116 foreign dignitaries from the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, and Italy would be allowed special movements during the Mahakumbh.
Meanwhile, a three-member judicial commission arrived to investigate the stampede but was escorted by over 300 police personnel, causing further disruption.
With Adityanath’s convoy of 30+ vehicles expected to be present on Saturday, many fear that authorities will continue prioritizing VIPs over the safety and well-being of ordinary pilgrims.
While survivors are actively searching for their loved ones lost in the disaster, the incident Mahakumbh has brought to the surface the horrifying results of governmental apathy and the arrogance of political elites in one of the world’s biggest religious processions”.
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