Nine Kanwarias devotees lost their lives in Bihar’s Vaishali district after a music system on their vehicle collided with a high-voltage power line.
At least nine kanwarias or Shiva worshippers were killed and eight injured in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh late on Sunday and Monday. In Bihar’s Vaishali district, a music system on a vehicle carrying kanwarias came in contact with an 11kv power line and left nine dead.
Devotees, known as kanwarias, were en route to the Hari Harnath Pashupati Mandir with sacred Ganga water when tragedy struck. Electrocution caused by faculty power lines ignited a storm of fury. Residents, incensed by the loss, unleashed their anger, barricading the Hajipur – Jandaha through fare and demanding swift retribution against the electricity board. Top officials were compelled to intervene, restoring order only after a tense standoff lasting several hours.
A convoy of faith turned into a scene of horror. Eleven Kanwarias devotees were trapped inside a vehicle when it stalled, becoming an inferno as its sound system ignited under the lethal caress of a sagging power line. Eight were consumed by the flames in an instant, while another succumbed to their wounds. Two survivors cling to life as authorities scramble to aid the bereaved.
Relative’s Loss Fuels Anger:
A grieving Dharmendra Paswan leveled scathing accusations against the power department, blaming their negligence for the tragic loss of his kin. He painted a picture of a power grid in disarray, with live wires dangerously dangling like deadly snakes, His cries for help, he claimed, were met with deafening indifference. As demands for justice reverberate, Chief Minister Nitesh Kumar extended condolences to the bereaved while vowing medical aid for the survivors.
A bus carrying 44 kanwarias en route to Ayodhya overturned near Badgaon village in Uttar Pradesh early Monday. Driver Fatigue caused the accident, injuring six Kanwarias devotees. Thankfully, all are reported to be stable.
Every year, millions embark on a sacred journey. Known as kanwarias, these devotees trek or drive to Haridwar to collect holy Ganga water in ceremonial poles. This annual pilgrimage, a testament to faith, culminates in offering the sacred liquid chosen deity. An estimated 30 million participated in this year’s event, which spanned from July 22 to August 2.
