A recent investigation by BBC Hindi has unveiled that the true toll of fatalities during the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, is significantly higher than the officially reported count. While authorities claim 37 people died in the deadly crush, the investigation reveals at least 26 additional fatalities, alongside dozens of families who received compensation under questionable pretenses.
On March 25, police officers from Uttar Pradesh (UP) discreetly delivered cash payments to grieving families in Bihar, including a notable case involving the family of Tara Devi. They received 500,000 rupees ($5,758; £4,291), despite the UP government's official stance. Dhananjay Gond, Tara's son, noted that these funds were just an initial installment towards a promised total of 2.5 million rupees for victims' families. Despite this transaction, many families reported being coerced into signing documents that falsely attributed deaths to health issues, distancing the state from its responsibility for the crowd's fatality.
The UP government has yet to officially disclose a full list of victims, complicating the situation further. The BBC’s investigation identified 82 confirmed deaths, contrasting sharply with the state's claim of just 37. Local interviews and documents led to the uncovering of monetary compensation provided—often only 500,000 rupees—given to families, while others, having lost loved ones, were left without acknowledgment or remuneration.
The critical examination illustrated not just discrepancies in numbers but also the stark variability in how different families, linked by the same tragic event, were treated. Victims of the chaos were spread across several locations at the festival, with officials insisting that only one incident occurred at the designated site while journalists have substantiated evidence of at least four separate incidents on the same day.
One family, bereaved at the Airavat Marg location, received minimal assistance and compensation, despite the associated trauma left in the aftermath. Others like Kusum Devi, who lost her husband, reported sitting beside their deceased loved ones for hours, waiting for help that never arrived. Whether families accepted compensation or not often seemed dependent on their willingness to accept governmental narratives that conflicted with their experiences.
The broader implications of this investigation resonate powerfully, highlighting the often-unseen struggles of families dealing with loss under harrowing circumstances, while officials navigate the complicated layer of public acknowledgment and official regret. As the Kumbh Mela continues to be a significant touchstone for many Hindus, this investigation sheds light on the human cost often overshadowed by the scale of such events.
The situation continues to unfold as families await responses from officials, and the actions taken by the UP government in the wake of these revelations remain to be seen.
