Nagpur pilgrims at Maha Kumbh caught between faith & fear amidst chaos

Nagpur: For many devotees from Nagpur, the Maha Kumbh Mela was meant to be a journey of faith — a chance to take the sacred dip and immerse in spirituality. But the deadly predawn stampede turned into a moment of dread on Wednesday. Some who returned just days ago recall overwhelming crowds, chants blending with the chaos, and the sheer force of humanity pushing through the ghats. Others still stranded there are witnessing the aftermath firsthand, navigating restricted movement and anxious calls from loved ones back home. Meanwhile, those who were set to leave in coming days now find themselves at a crossroads. The pull of devotion remains strong, so does the shadow of tragedy.
Nitish Dravekar, a resident of Ravindra Nagar, was among those present when chaos unfolded around 1 am. He recalled how the spiritual fervour of the crowd quickly turned into a struggle for survival. "I saw 2-3 ambulances rushing towards the spot, but strangely, they never returned the same way. Maybe they were diverted by police. The sheer helplessness in the air was overwhelming."
For some, the experience was chaotic even before tragedy struck. "We left Nagpur to take a dip on Mauni Amavasya at Sangam, but reaching there itself became an ordeal. We were stuck in the parking area for over 10 hours since early Wednesday. Later, we had to push through a crowd of at least 7-8 lakh people over a mere 3-4 km stretch. Even roads leading to Varanasi were choked," shared Ajinkya Deo, another Nagpur-based devotee.
The most haunting testimonies came from those near the epicentre of the stampede. Ajinkya recalled a volunteer's chilling words: "The ones sitting and lying on the ground bore the maximum brunt as barricades holding the human tide gave away. Some were trampled, others lay motionless."
Even those who visited a few days earlier sensed the mounting pressure on the system. Deepak Khanuja, a resident of Laxmi Nagar, who took a dip on January 23 and returned on January 25, noticed the shift. "The first two days were smooth, but by evening of January 24, we could feel the strain. The crowd kept swelling, and it was evident that the management was struggling."
The situation was worsened by VIP movements disrupting the flow of devotees. "Of the multiple bridges, two were suddenly closed for VIPs. Barricades were placed there, cutting off key pathways," said another returnee.
For those who planned a visit in coming days, the tragedy has left them torn between faith and fear. Vaibhav Samarth from Bhandara, currently residing in Nagpur, had planned to attend the Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami (February 3) but has since reconsidered. "We were about to book our tickets on Tuesday. By morning, we heard about the stampede, and we just froze. Maybe it was divine intervention that stopped us," he said.
Yet, for some, devotion outweighs dread. Anushree, another Nagpur resident, confessed to second-guessing her plans but remained resolute. "Yes, there's fear, but my faith is stronger. We will still go, but now, there's an added sense of caution," she added.
With thousands from Vidarbha travelling to Prayagraj, no reports of injuries or deaths were received until late Wednesday, according to sources. The division and district administration did not confirm any casualties, stating that no official information reached them by then. As per the official statement, at least 30 died and over 60 were injured.