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‘Maybe Last Dip’: Cancer Patient at Maha Kumbh Hopes for Miracle

Cancer patient Nirmala, seeking a miracle, took a dip in the Ganga during Maha Kumbh. A stampede injured 30 women. Uttar Pradesh CM urged devotees to take dips safely at designated ghats.

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‘Maybe Last Dip’: Cancer Patient at Maha Kumbh Hopes for Miracle

A woman undergoing cancer treatment took a dip in the Ganga river during Mauni Amavasya, hoping the spiritual occasion would aid her recovery. Nirmala, who is battling metastatic cancer, traveled to the Maha Kumbh fair grounds in a wheelchair, despite ongoing chemotherapy treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. She has been undergoing treatment for two years, but her condition remains unchanged. Her husband has said, “The doctors have lost hope. Whatever happens is the will of God. Maybe she will be healed,” as the couple clung to hope.

The couple visited Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj with their son and saw a stampede that injured 30 women. Nirmala said that people were breaking through barricades and falling. The stampede took place on Mauni Amavasya during the early morning hours, leaving many women injured. Due to this, the holy dip was delayed by Akharas.

About 30 women were reported injured when barricades broke nearly a kilometre away from the Sangam during the ‘Amrit Snan’. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to the pilgrims to desist from overcrowding by asking people to take the dip in their nearest ghats. “All ghats hold equal spiritual significance and reaching the main confluence point should not be a priority,” he said. The officials ensured that multiple ghats were identified for the immersion, thus ruling out overcrowding and maintaining the sanctity of the festival.

By 8 am, over 2.78 crore people had immersed themselves in the holy waters, meaning almost 19.94 crore pilgrims since January 13. Rare celestial alignment, ‘Triveni Yog, underlines the importance of Mauni Amavasya, for an estimated 10 crore devotees for the occasion. The Maha Kumbh, that started on January 13, will end on February 26.