17 C
Surat
Saturday, February 15, 2025
17 C
Surat
Saturday, February 15, 2025

Stampede victim’s body reaches home | Ahmedabad News


Ahmedabad: A pall of gloom has descended on Mehsana’s Kada village, the native of Mahesh Soma Patel, the 66-year-old who lost his life in Wednesday’s stampede at the Maha Kumbh. His body was brought to the village on Thursday before being taken to Sidhpur for last rites. Later, health minister Rushikesh Patel visited Kada, where he paid his respects and gathered information about the incident from family members who had accompanied Mahesh to the world’s largest religious congregation at Prayagraj.
Mahesh’s family is yet to come to terms with his death. His brother-in-law, Ramesh Patel, recounted the tragic incident that was filled with confusion, chaos, screams and horrific scenes. Ramesh said he and Mahesh were among a group of 40 who had embarked on a journey to the Maha Kumbh on Jan 26 in a luxury bus from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj via Surat. After spending their first night there, the group took their holy dip the following morning and returned safely. On the second day, despite Ramesh’s reluctance, Mahesh insisted on visiting the Triveni Sangam for a dip at the confluence.
In the milling crowds of devotees, members of their group were separated, leaving only five together. They were pushed and swayed by the growing crowd and suddenly found themselves pushed to the ground. While Ramesh managed to get back on his feet, Mahesh, a cardiac patient who had undergone a bypass surgery five years ago, remained trapped as people continued to walk over him. All attempts to help him up remained unsuccessful. His group called for an ambulance, which was delayed. Once it arrived, Mahesh was transported to the hospital where he was declared dead.
Bhavesh Patel, the victim’s nephew, said that Mahesh had moved to Surat’s Athwa area 15 years ago. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, a son and has two siblings.





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