Six killed as thunderstorm hits Kumbh Mela site in Ujjain
Six people were killed and around 40 injured on Thursday evening when heavy rain accompanied by lightning and squall wreaked havoc at the site of the ongoing Simhatha Kumbh Mela here, flattening and uprooting pilgrims’ tents.
“Six people have been killed and 40 injured in and around the Mela area,” District Collector Kavindra Kiyawat told. The second Shahi Snan is due on May 9.
A woman pilgrim was killed in Undasa area when lightning struck her, Superintendent of Police Manohar Verma said.
Nearly a third of the tents put up by the pilgrims were blown off in the squall, another police official B S Chauhan said, adding it will take at least a week to erect them again.
Rescuers were clearing the collapsed tents and pulling out people trapped under them.
The rain made large parts of the Mela ground slushy, making the rescue operation difficult. Authorities have cut off the electricity supply to the area as a precautionary measure.
PM expresses grief
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives at the ongoing Kumbh Mela
“May Almighty give strength to the bereaved families to overcome the grief,” he tweeted.
“I hope the injured recover quickly. I pray for the safety & well-being of all saints, pilgrims and tourists at the Kumbh,” he said in another tweet.
Suspended IPS officer Pradeep Sharma on Saturday reiterated that he would approach the court if the complaint given by him Read more
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat police has lodged two separate complaints against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal's convoy in connection Read more
JAMMU: Terming as provocative a speech by NC chief Farooq Abdullah, BJP demanded registration of FIR against him and ban Read more
GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat police on Saturday has registered an FIR against former leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil who had questioned Narendra Read more
