Fri Jan 31 23:58:52 UTC 2025: ## Four from Belagavi Die in Maha Kumbh Stampede

**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, January 29, 2025:** Four residents of Belagavi, Karnataka, perished in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on January 29th. The victims include BJP worker Jyoti Hattarwad (50) and her daughter Megha Hattarwad (25), along with Arun Narayan Khoparde (60) and Mahadevi Hanumant Bavanur (45).

The stampede occurred during a pre-dawn holy dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. The family of Jyoti and Megha Hattarwad were unable to contact them for much of the day due to network outages in Prayagraj. They were later informed of their deaths by a fellow traveler from Belagavi. The group of 16 had traveled from Belagavi on January 26th via Sairath Travel Agency.

Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has appealed for calm and assured that authorities are working with Uttar Pradesh officials and the South Western Railway to assist those still unaccounted for, attributing some missing persons reports to the large crowds and communication disruptions. He urged anyone with missing persons concerns to contact his office. MLA Asif (Raju) Sait visited the families of Mr. Khoparde and Ms. Bavanur.

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