Patna: A stampede at the Sangam coast in Prayagraj late on Tuesday night has left more than 30 people dead and 19 others seriously injured. Authorities have identified 25 of the deceased, with a majority—19—hailing from Uttar Pradesh.
Among the victims, seven women from Bihar lost their lives. The deceased include four devotees from Gopalganj and one each from Maner (Patna), Aurangabad, and Muzaffarpur. At least 11 people from Bihar, including 10 women, remain missing.
Bihar Victims and Missing Persons
The four women from Gopalganj who died in the tragedy were identified as:
- Shivkalo Devi (65), wife of the late Tarakeshwar Singh, from Madanpur village, Barauli police station area.
- Saraswati Devi (68), wife of the late Buteli Manjhi, from Ramnagar village, Bhore police station area.
- Tara Devi (60), wife of Dhurendra, from Shyampur village, Uchkagaon police station area.
- Kanti Devi (65), wife of Bachcha Dubey, from Balesara village.
Other victims from Bihar include:
- Rajrani Devi (55), wife of the late Suresh Yadav, from Sosuna village, Goh block, Aurangabad.
- Siya Devi (62) from Maner, Patna.
- Shiva Devi (60) from Mushahari block, Muzaffarpur.
The postmortem of the deceased was conducted in Prayagraj before their bodies were handed over to their families.
At least 11 people from Bihar remain unaccounted for, including:
- Muzaffarpur: Two women.
- Jehanabad: Two women, Renu Devi and Siyamani Devi, from Aman village.
- Gopalganj: Four women—Munni Devi, Rajkumari Devi, Subhavati Devi, and Rima Devi from Jagdishpur village, Vijayipur block.
- Gaya: Jaimanti Devi (67), wife of Vijay Singh, from Mungrain village, Amas block.
- Siwan: Maya Devi (65) from Bakhri village, Siswan police station area.
- Buxar: Seema Devi, Gulaicha Devi, and Ram Avadh Sharma from Harikishunpur village.
Eyewitness Accounts
Many victims had gathered for a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most significant bathing days of the Maha Kumbh.
Shivkalo Devi had travelled to Prayagraj with her daughter, Sangeeta Kumari. As they made their way to the riverbank, chaos ensued, leading to the fatal stampede.
Saraswati Devi, who had accompanied her 14-year-old nephew Deepu Kumar, was also among those crushed in the crowd.
Rajrani Devi from Aurangabad had travelled to the Maha Kumbh with a group of 12 people from her village. Her son, Jitendra Kumar, recounted, “My mother had gone to take another dip on Mauni Amavasya when the stampede occurred. She was crushed in the chaos and did not survive.”
Four others from Gopalganj sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at a hospital in Prayagraj.
Investigation and Response
Authorities are investigating the cause of the stampede, which took place as thousands of devotees gathered for ritual baths. Officials have yet to confirm the exact circumstances that led to the tragedy.
