Essays

Introduction. Kurnbh' fairs are held at Allahabad and Hardwar after every twelve years. It is said that the gods and demons churned the ocean and got many things. Among them one thing was nectar the nectar was distributed among the gods but some drops fell on four places in India, namely at Hardwar, Allahabad, Ujjain and Nasik. So these places have become holy and Kumbh fairs are held at these places. The last Kumbh fair was held at Hardwar in the month of Push in January 1986.

Preparations. Great preparations were made by the government for the comforts of pilgrims. Special trains ran from all directions of Hardwar full of passengers. To check the spread of cholera all the passengers were inoculated against cholera before entering the Mela ground. New bridges were constructed over the Ganga for traffic Sheds were built to give shelter to the people. Yet the rush was great. The trains were fully packed. One could see heads and heads everywhere.

The tragedy in the mela. The muker Shankranti was the day for bath. The special arrangements were made for the reception of the Chief Minister. Out of two traffic bridges one was closed for public. Millions of people waited for bath. The work of bathing started at 12 O'clock in the night. The rush became uncontrollable. The load of the crowd became too heavy for the bridge to bear. Lo! the bridge gave way. The swift current carried away the devotees of Ganga. No one could give correct figure of the dead persons. There was a great consternation among people. There was stampede. The police stopped people from taking bath. The Nagas were creating troubles from behind the crowd of people. Thousands had died. Their dead bodies were missing. Those who went to Hardwar to make use of Parba could do nothing. Thousands of pilgrims had to return without taking bath in the holy water of Ganga.

The piteous scene. The holy place of Hardwar presented a horrible scene. Some were still breathing. They were saved by volunteers and sent to the hospitals. The presence of Vir Bahadur Singh was the chief cause of this tragedy. The police neglected its duty due to the reception of the Chief Minister of LI .P. All blamed the Chief Minister for paying his visit i i fair at the time when police had the busy time.

Conclusion. The news of this great tragedy spread throughout the country. Anxious telegrams were sent to Hardwar but there was none to receive them.