Four devotees from Karnataka were among the Maha Kumbh Mela stampede victims that shocked Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday morning.
The deceased were identified as Jyothi Deepak Hattarwath (44) and her daughter Megha Hattarwath (24), residents of Vadagaavi, Arun Koparde (61) from Shettigalli and Mahadevi Hanmath Bavanir (48) from Shivajinagar. They were part of a 60-member group that had travelled from Belagavi to Prayagraj by a private tourist bus.
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Belagavi deputy commissioner Mohammad Roshan, who confirmed the deaths said the bodies would be brought to the city at the earliest.
The Karnataka state government has deputed two officers - additional SP of Belagavi NS Shruti and special deputy commissioner Harsha Shetty as nodal officers to repatriate the mortal remains of the deceased.
The Karnataka government has set up a helpline - 080 22340676 to assist pilgrims from the state needing assistance.
Maha Kumbh stampede
At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in the pre-dawn stampede in the Sangam area as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya.
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In view of the stampede, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials to operate trains as per arising needs in Prayagraj.
Vaishnaw reviewed train services after the tragedy, and visited the 24x7 war room set up in the Rail Bhawan to monitor passengers' amenities and train operations, according to a press note shared by the ministry. The ministry also said Railway Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satish Kumar was present in the war room the whole day to personally monitor train operations.
