In a shocking twist, a man from Uttar Pradesh, presumed dead in the Mahakumbh stampede, returned home on the day of his tehrvi—the 13th-day death ritual. His family, mourning his loss, was left stunned when he walked through the door.
The man revealed he had spent the last few weeks smoking chillum with sadhus, completely unaware that his family had performed his last rites. The Mahakumbh stampede, which claimed multiple lives, had led to mistaken identities and chaotic victim identification.
This bizarre incident has raised serious concerns over crowd management and safety at major religious gatherings. Experts stress the need for better tracking and identification to prevent such distressing errors.
While the family is relieved, this story highlights the challenges of handling massive gatherings like Mahakumbh, where one miscalculation can turn into a crisis.