2 months on, kin of several Maha Kumbh stampede victims await Rs 25-lakh relief

The Indian Express spoke to several families who said their relatives had died in the January 29 stampede. Some said they had not been provided compensation, some said they had received Rs 5 lakh, and some said they had received the same amount but also been told the rest would be released in instalments.

The UP government had announced a Rs 25 lakh compensation for the next of kin.

Crowd at Maha Kumbh Mela on Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on January 29. (Express photo/ Chitral Khambhati)

Vinay Rajbhar (27) from Jaunpur said he lost his grandmother, Rampati (70), and aunt, Reeta Devi (35). He told The Indian Express last week that he was yet to receive the death certificate or the compensation.

“We received a call from Prayagraj authorities to come and collect the death certificate, but they have not asked for our bank account details,” said Vinay.

Dinesh Patel from Ballia, whose wife Reena Devi (33) and daughter Roshan Patel (12) died in the stampede, said, “Authorities handed us the death certificates (last week) but are silent on the compensation.” Patel, a farmer, also said no one had sought his bank details.

Hours after the stampede, CM Yogi Adityanath had ordered a judicial probe and directed the UP Police to conduct a separate inquiry. No FIR has been filed in connection with the incident.

Dhananjay Kumar Gond from Bihar’s Gopalganj lost his mother, Tara Devi (65), in the stampede. He said he has received her death certificate and Rs 5 lakh in cash. “An officer visited my house (on March 19) and handed over Rs 5 lakh. I was surprised because the Uttar Pradesh government had announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh. The officer did not inform me about the reason for this Rs 5 lakh payment,” he said.

The family of Saraswati Devi (70), a relative of Tara Devi who also lost her life in the stampede, said they had received the same sum. “I have no idea why we were given Rs 5 lakh when the announced compensation was Rs 25 lakh,” said Saraswati Devi’s daughter-in-law Rambha Devi.

Crowds surge at the Mahakumbh grounds. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambhati)

Hukum Lodhi (45), from Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, was also among the stampede victims.

“We went to Prayagraj some time ago to get the death certificate, but no one could guide us. We submitted an application with the district administration with our address and phone number, but no one has contacted us about when the death certificate and compensation will be provided,” said Hukum’s brother-in-law Narayan Singh Lodhi.

On the families’ claims that they were given just Rs 5 lakh, mela adhikari Anand and Prayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar said they had no knowledge of the matter.

Additional Director General, Prayagraj Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar and DIG, Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna could not be reached for comment.

The Indian Express also spoke to the families of some of the victims from West Bengal, who also said they had received Rs 5 lakh. Sharmila Ruidas, whose husband Binod Ruidas, an e-rickshaw driver, lost his life at the kumbh, said, “On March 19, four people came; three were in police uniform. Before they reached, they called my brother informing him that they would be coming in a few hours from Dhanbad. They handed me Rs 5 lakh in an envelope and made me sign that we had received the cash. They also clicked pictures,” Sharmila said from Bardhaman.

She claimed they told the family the money would be paid in five instalments.

Sonamoni Devi, whose mother-in-law Gayatri Devi (58) died in the stampede, said they too received Rs 5 lakh and were told the money would be paid in instalments.