The Uttar Pradesh government had initially downplayed the January 29 Mahakumbh stampede but later acknowledged 30 deaths. However, an investigation by Newslaundry on February 5 suggested the actual toll was at least 79.
Two weeks after the report, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had revised the figure to 37 in the assembly. But a BBC investigation recently confirmed that at least 82 people were killed in the stampede, bolstering Newslaundry’s findings.
The BBC also reported discrepancies in compensation. Of the 82 deceased, families of only 36 victims received the full Rs 25 lakh compensation. Families of another 26 victims were given Rs 5 lakh each, while 20 families received no compensation at all.
Newslaundry has now found that of the 26 victims mentioned in the BBC report, the bodies of at least 24 were brought to Motilal Nehru Medical College in Prayagraj. And the families of some of these victims are struggling to get the full compensation of Rs 25 lakh. For example, Sunaina Devi’s husband, Uday Pratap, has moved the Allahabad High Court.
Four months after the tragedy, the question remains: how many lives were lost and why hasn’t the UP government released all the information in public?
Watch.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
