Recent findings reveal that the actual death toll of the Kumbh Mela crowd crush may be significantly higher than the officially acknowledged figure, with families revealing undelivered compensation and hidden deaths as authorities remain silent.
Hidden Death Toll Exposed in Kumbh Mela Crowd Crush
Hidden Death Toll Exposed in Kumbh Mela Crowd Crush
An extensive BBC investigation uncovers a larger victim count than reported in the tragic crowd surge at India's Kumbh Mela festival.
A BBC Hindi investigation has exposed discrepancies in the death toll following the recent tragedy at the Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu festival attended by millions in India. Official reports have stated a death toll of 37, but the investigation has surfaced evidence suggesting that as many as 81 people may have lost their lives, with unacknowledged cases involving compensation distributions.
On March 25, plain-clothes officers from Uttar Pradesh (UP) were observed distributing cash compensation to victims’ families in Bihar. Among them was Dhananjay Gond, who received 500,000 rupees ($5,758; £4,291) for the death of his mother, Tara Devi, who was caught in the crowd crush in Prayagraj on January 29. Dhananjay claimed the amount represented just the first installment of a larger 2.5 million rupees supposedly pledged to each victim’s family, raising concerns about transparency around the total financial aid.
Despite the government's assertion of distributed compensation amounting to 2.5 million rupees for 35 victims, the BBC discovered an additional 26 families had received payments of 500,000 rupees, while another 18 families reported no compensation at all. Most families have documents indicating their relatives died in the crush, contradicting officials' claims that many fatalities were due to other causes.
The investigation also pinpointed several locations of the crowd surge beyond the widely reported Sangam Nose, contradicting claims made by UP authorities. Evidence corroborating these events was gathered through family interviews, local news reports, and the substantiation of over 100 families across India who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Families who received cash reported stark discrepancies in how authorities documented deaths, often forcing families to sign papers attributing their relatives' deaths to health issues instead of the crush. This has led to confusion and anger among the grieving; some families are refusing the compensation altogether as they do not wish to endorse misleading narratives.
Moreover, inquiries made by the BBC to government officials regarding these discrepancies went unanswered, reflecting a lack of responsibility and accountability from the authorities in this grievous matter. Victim families continue to navigate the immense grief of their losses amid an unsettling bureaucratic silence.
As authorities scramble to respond, a three-member judicial commission tasked with investigating the crush has had its tenure extended amid growing public scrutiny. Meanwhile, families await rightful acknowledgment and compensation for their losses from this catastrophic event at one of the world's largest religious gatherings.
