Vinod Kumar was not at home on Tuesday, following his usual routine of traveling for several days at a time in search of masonry work. While he was away, his family’s daily life continued as normal—until a phone call changed everything. On the other end of the line came devastating news: the women of his family, spanning three generations, had lost their lives in a tragic crowd surge.
According to reports, the incident occurred during a large public gathering led by a spiritual figure. What began as a peaceful assembly quickly descended into chaos when panic spread through the crowd. In the confusion that followed, dozens of people were fatally injured. Authorities later confirmed that at least 121 individuals died as a result of the incident.
For Mr. Kumar, the hours that followed were marked by shock and disbelief. Accompanied by his three sons, he traveled from one hospital to another, hoping for clarity amid the uncertainty. Like many families affected by the tragedy, they searched for information about their loved ones in overcrowded medical facilities struggling to respond to the scale of the disaster.
Officials have since begun investigating how the situation escalated so rapidly and whether safety measures were adequate for an event of that size. Emergency responders and volunteers worked through the night, assisting survivors and supporting grieving families.