Mahakumbh stampede: Two more West Bengal pilgrims succumb to injuries
Amiya Saha and Binod Ruidas were among 30 pilgrims who died in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh
Two more people from West Bengal have died in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, their family members said, taking the toll of fatalities from the eastern state to four.
Amiya Saha (28) from Baisnabnagar area of Malda district and 35-year-old Binod Ruidas from Jamuria in Paschim Bardhaman were also among the 30 pilgrims who died in the pre-dawn stampede in Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh, their family members said.
On Thursday, the family of two women – Basanti Poddar from the city's Golf Green area and Urmila Bhuniya from Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district – had claimed that they succumbed to injuries suffered during the rush for taking a holy dip at the mega religious gathering on the occasion of ‘Mauni Amavasya’ on Wednesday.
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Talking to reporters on Friday, Saha’s father alleged that his son, a primary school teacher, was injured in the stampede and left untreated at a Uttar Pradesh hospital for some time.
He later died, but the Uttar Pradesh administration “did not issue a death certificate" while releasing the body, which delayed the post-mortem examination, his father claimed.
Ruidas’ brother said he died after suffering injuries while waiting for his turn for a holy dip on Wednesday.
His body was brought back on Friday morning.
Ruidas’ brother also alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government did not issue a "proper” death certificate.
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Meanwhile, the family members of nine pilgrims from the state claimed that they were still missing after the stampede, which also injured 60 people.
