12 When we set out for Prayagraj to take a dip at the Maha Kumbh on Mouni Amavasya, we could not even imagine what awaited us there. I am thankful to God that we came out alive.
We knew the occasion would draw lakhs but we expected there to be adequate arrangements from the administration.
On Wednesday, we left the hotel around 1.30 am and reached pillars 198-199 at sector 21 in the Jhusi Kohna area. When we drew near the approach way to the ghats, we found arrow markers guiding the devotees. We were surprised to notice there was no barricade or drop gate segregating the crowd. We have better crowd management for the large Durga Pujas in Kolkata. In case of such a large crowd, there should always be a separate entry and exit. There was nothing like that here, and a comparatively narrow stretch was used by pilgrims to enter and exit.
As we went forward, the crowd thickened, and we were walking pressed to one another. At a point, it was becoming difficult to breathe. I was ready to quit midway and return but there was no way we could do that. One of the women in our group started crying as she could not withstand the pressure; another got lost. It took us nearly three hours to cross a 150-m stretch and reach the ghat. While leaving, it took us two hours to cover the stretch.
Bhattacharya (49), a businessman from Behala, spoke to Rohit Khanna