Maha Kumbh 2025: Four bodies of Karnataka's Belagavi devotees killed in stampede to be airlifted

Representational Image

The bodies of four devotees from Karnataka's Belagavi who died in Maha Kumbh stampede in Prayagraj on Wednesday will be transported from Prayagraj to Delhi and then airlifted to Belagavi, said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Roshan on Thursday, ANI reported.

Speaking to PTI reporters, DC Roshan expressed the district's sorrow over the tragic incident, stating, "The incident that occurred in Prayagraj yesterday has deeply saddened all of us. Yesterday night, the district administration of Belagavi district as well as the government of Karnataka has taken steps to coordinate with the district administration of Prayagraj to shift the dead bodies to the district."

"The decision was taken late last night to shift the deceased from Prayagraj to Delhi and then airlift the bodies from Delhi to Belagavi...We have made parallel arrangements in the city to do the post-mortem and other procedures in Belagavi," he added.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka minister Krishna Byre Gowda stated that senior officials are overseeing efforts to bring back the bodies, ANI cited.

"IPS officer Hariram Shankar is coordinating the movement of mortal remains of four people from Kumbh Mela, moving in two ambulances towards Delhi. Special DC, Harsha from Belagavi is reaching Delhi. Both will ensure and also fly with the mortal remains to reach Belagavi this evening," Gowda told ANI.

"The 3:20 pm IndiGo flight for the mortal remains and four accompanying family members and officers has also been arranged by the Government of Karnataka. As of now, there is no report of any other injured or hospitalised. However, if directed, the Nodal Officer of Govt of Karnataka, Harshal Boyar, has been asked to take all measures necessary to find out if there are any more injured in any of the hospitals," he added.

The tragic stampede took place in the wee hours of Wednesday, where 30 people died and several others injured, prompting an outpouring of condolences from political leaders, ANI cited.

Speaking to the press, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vaibhav Krishna said that 25 bodies have been identified while the rest are yet to be identified. "A total of 30 people have died unfortunately in the stampede that took place at the Mahakumbh at Prayagraj. Twenty-five bodies have been identified and the rest five are yet to be identified," he added.

Among the deceased, four are from Karnataka, one from Assam and one from Gujarat, the DIG said, adding that the 36 people are currently undergoing treatment at a local medical college, ANI reported.

(With inputs from ANI)