'Over 10 bodies kept on the floor': Eyewitnesses recount scenes from hospital, ghat after Mahakumbh stampede

Amid uncertainty over the death toll at Mahakumbh on Wednesday morning, eyewitnesses describe the harrowing scene from the hospital where devotees injured in the 'stampede-like situation' were admitted. Authorities are yet to release the number of those who were injured in the melee but reports peg it at over 60. 

An unnamed official told Reuters that over seven people have been killed and several injured. Footage from the ghat showed ambulances rushing towards the river bank where the incident occurred. Several bodies were seen lying on the ghat.

The injured were rushed to Central Hospital and Swaroop Rani Hospital at Prayagraj. Many were brought unconscious to the hospital while others were bleeding, according to Dainik Bhaskar. Over 10 bodies were seen on the floor at Swaroop Rani Hospital. They were later moved out through the emergency exit.

Beds inside the emergency were being vacated for seriously injured patients, including children, women and elderly. 

"We have come from Kaspura. Three children are missing. I am looking for them but I am unable to find anyone. My mobile and Aadhar card were also lost in the melee. I am unable to find anyone from our company," a woman told Dainik Bhaskar. 

"We had not even bathed yet. Then, there was pushing and fighting. People kept climbing over each other. We were a group of three. My sister-in-law is injured and she has been admitted to the hospital. Our luggage was lost in the stampede. We somehow managed to escape with our lives," Meena from Nalanda told reporters. 

Ramesh, a sanitation worker, alleged that the pontoon bridges were not used properly. "Some bridges were not used, causing overcrowding near the others," he told Jansatta. 

There are also allegations that help was delayed for the devotees. "We called the CRPF and the police a long time ago, but no one has come yet. It's been half an hour, and we have taken our person to the hospital," a devotee said. 

Vidhya Sahu, another devotee, said the situation got out of control because of the crowd and people got stuck at a nearby pole. "We have come from Belagavi, Karnataka. We were just walking when people from behind pushed us and took us around. There was a pole in the opposite direction, and everyone got stuck near it," she added.