A son’s determined seek for his mom – one among many heartbreaking tales from Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras after 121 individuals had been killed in a stampede at a poorly-planned public assembly by ‘godman’ Bhole Baba, who preached divinity from a swank ‘ashram’ constructed on 13 acres of land value Rs 4 crore.
Meenesh Kumar’s plight mirrors these of lots of – associates and households of those that died, crushed beneath the ft of panicked fellow worshippers – who, hours after the tragedy, run from one hospital to a different, and again once more, praying, paradoxically, their father, mom, son, or daughter is alive.
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For a lot of these prayers will fall on deaf ears. For the remaining, and a tearful Mr Kumar is hoping to be amongst them, aid awaits. And if he’s so fortunate, he advised NDTV, “I’ll by no means let her to any ‘satsang’.”
Meenesh Kumar’s Story
“My mom stated this ‘baba’ says good issues in his ‘satsang’. I went a few times… however she used to go to all… from Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthan, and in UP additionally. I advised her, ‘you might be too previous… do not go.’ However she didn’t agree. Now, if I discover my mom, I’ll by no means let her go…” he advised NDTV.
“I do not know a lot about this baba…” he stated and known as on the state authorities – led by the Bharatiya Janata Occasion – to determine these whose negligence led to this catastrophe.
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“The administration ought to know whose mistake this was… and they need to appropriate it,” he stated.
Meenesh Kumar lives in a village in UP’s Mainpuri district.
His mom, Ramkali Devi, 54, was among the many 2.5 lakh individuals who trooped dutifully right into a small open subject in Hathras to hearken to Bhole Baba, who has blamed “anti-social parts” – and never negligent organisers and aggressive non-public safety, which incorporates an ‘military of girls’, for this tragedy.
Ramkali Devi left her residence on Monday. The ‘prayer meet’ was on Tuesday.
She has not been seen or heard since. After which, amid the gloom, there appeared to be a ray of sunshine for Meenesh Kumar, whose search led him to the district hospital in Hathras.
READ | In Killer Stampede, One Entry, One Exit For Crowd Of two.5 Lakh
Ramkali Devi, such as you and I, and nearly everybody else, has a cell phone. Meenesh Kumar had been ringing it incessantly, hoping, nearly in opposition to hope, she would finally choose up.
And finally a lady did… nevertheless it wasn’t his mom.
A stranger did. She stated she would prepare for him to talk to his mom. Solely she didn’t. When he known as again, stranger issues lay in retailer. “She advised me my mom had gone to Agra,” he stated.
“After I known as once more (a 3rd time) she stated, ‘Why are you troubling me?’ and switched off the telephone,” a puzzled and much more fearful Mr Kumar stated.
“If Baba Has Powers…”
For a lot of, even Bhole Baba’s most ardent followers, this tragedy has hit laborious.
READ | Siblings, Aged 3 And 9, Amongst Youngsters Killed In Stampede
Binod, a resident of Hathras, stated he had shredded posters of the ‘godman’ that after adorned his residence… a house that was stuffed together with his spouse, his mom, and his daughter. Right this moment all three are lifeless.
“I used to be away, I got here to know in regards to the stampede within the night. I rushed residence to seek out they’re all lifeless,” he stated, breaking into tears.
READ | “If Baba Has Powers…”: Victims Mourn, Choose Up Items
From the numerous who had been injured, and the households of the lifeless, there’s one loud message to Bhole Baba… a requirement, now, for proof of his divinity. “If the baba actually has powers and cares about us, he ought to come right here and heal us…” is the resounding cry to the ‘godman’ and his many crores.
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