GUWAHATI: The family of businessman Niti Ranjan Pal of Hailakandi in Assam, who died in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela early on Wednesday, January 29, is stuck with the body with authorities refusing to issue a death certificate.
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His cousin Hirak Pal, who had accompanied him along with a few other family members to Prayagraj, told GPlus that they wanted to bring the body to Hailkandi by air cargo, but it cannot be done in the absence of a death certificate.
“They are refusing to give the death certificate because post mortem has not been done, but at the same time they are not in a position to do the post mortem,” he said adding they have been asked to collect the death certificate later. When pointed out they were from Assam and could not come back again to collect the death certificate, the authorities expressed helplessness given the overwhelming situation.
“Instead, they are offering us an ambulance to transport the body… it will take several days to reach by road. We are in a fix,” he said. The family is now considering to try and get Niti Ranjan’s son to Prayagraj to conduct the last rites. “Let us see what we can do,” he said.
Recalling the tragic turn of events, Hirak said that they had left to take the dip at around 1 AM at Tribeni Ghat (No. 151). However, seeing the large gathering, they decided to put off the holy bath.
“There were two paths to the ghat for going and coming. We were returning on the designated path, but the police had for some reason barricaded the other path, forcing the large crowds on to our path resulting in a huge pushing and shoving. My brother died in this melee,” he said.
He estimated till the time he was at the hospital till around 4 PM, around 50 bodies would have been brought in. “My brother’s body was listed 13th and at that time, around 10 AM, the list contain 23 names,” he said.
Niti Ranjan’s wife was among the seven family members who visited the Maha Kumbh Mela. He owned a sweet shop in Hailakandi town by the name of Om Sweets.
Meanwhile, the Assam government has announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for the Pal family.
