All belongings of the devotees were found scattered after the stampede that broke out near Sangam. It was a horrific scene as shoes, slippers, and clothes of the devotees were seen scattered everywhere.
Some had lost their belongings, while others were searching for their loved ones with tears in their eyes. A large number of people had been separated from their loved ones.
Some were searching for their father, some for their mother, and some for their children. The injured and dead bodies from the stampede were taken to the Central Hospital in Sector-2 of the Mela area and the Swarooprani Hospital of the city. The relatives of the missing people reached the ‘Lost and Found’ centres to search for their loved ones.
Meena from Nalanda, Bihar, said, “We had not even been able to take a bath yet. Before that, the news of the stampede broke out in the Mela area. People kept climbing over each other. My sister-in-law was injured in the stampede. She is admitted in the Central Hospital. We three people had come to take a bath on Mauni Amavasya. Our belongings were lost in the stampede. We somehow managed to escape, saving our lives.”
The biggest Khoya-Paya Centre is located in Sector 4 of the Mela area. A woman from Bihar was found here at 4 am. She said, “My husband is missing after the stampede. I have come here searching for him. There is no trace of him anywhere.”
Another woman said, “Our father, Shyam Bahadur, is missing. I have come to the hospital searching for him, but nothing is known yet.”
Ranjeet Prasad from Bihar said, “Our father, Ganesh, has gone missing in the stampede. The police at Sangam told us to go and check in the hospital. I came to the hospital, but no information is available about my father here as well.”
Ramesh from Guna district in Madhya Pradesh said, “My wife, daughter, and son-in-law have gone missing in the stampede. I don’t know why there was a stampede at Sangam suddenly. I somehow ran away to save my life.”
A woman named Lalati also got lost in the stampede at Sangam Ghat.
Another woman said, “My three children are missing. I am looking for them but cannot find anyone. My mobile and Aadhaar card are also lost. I cannot find anyone who was with me.”
The Mela administration has posted a notice at the hospital located in Sector-20 of Maha Kumbh. It says: “Those whose family members or relatives are lost should go to the post-mortem house of Swaroop Rani Medical College or the Lost and Found centre located in Sector-21.”