Headline: Woman headed to Kumbh who went ‘missing’ found safe and sound, family breathed a sigh of relief
Subtitle: A 50-year-old woman, Tara Devi, went missing after the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) on February 15, but was later found to have never strayed from her original plan to visit the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage in Prayagraj.
As news of the stampede broke, a frantic search ensued, with her husband Gupteshwar Yadav and authorities working tirelessly to locate her. But, in a shocking twist, it turned out that Tara Devi had never deviated from her plan and had, in fact, safely made her way to the Maha Kumbh, only to return to Delhi on February 17.
What happened?
According to Gupteshwar, the couple arrived at NDLS on February 15 to board a train to Prayagraj, but got separated amidst the overcrowding near platform 14. As he searched for Tara Devi, a stampede broke out, claiming 18 lives, including four minors. Unbeknownst to Gupteshwar, Tara Devi had managed to move to a less crowded area and boarded a train to Prayagraj around midnight from platform 8.
The Mysterious Case
Puzzled by Tara Devi’s disappearance, Gupteshwar returned to NDLS on February 16, seeking help from railway officials. He was directed to several hospitals, but she was nowhere to be found. The family, desperate for answers, kept searching for her, only to receive a shocking revelation: Tara Devi had never been missing in the first place.
The Relief
"We only found out when she returned to Delhi on the evening of 17 February," Gupteshwar said, visibly relieved. "We were on the edge, but our relief knows no bounds that she’s safe and sound." The family’s joy was palpable, with Gupteshwar attributing her safety to the help of a family from Bihar who assisted her throughout her journey.
The Police Response
When asked about Tara Devi’s case, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) K.P.S. Malhotra highlighted that officials had come across media reports identifying her as missing. "When we checked the records, we found no missing report filed at New Delhi railway station police station," he said. The team managed to establish contact with Tara Devi’s family, confirming her return home.
Lessons Learnt
The incident raises several questions. Why did officials not find a missing report filed at the NDLS police station? How did Tara Devi manage to evade detection, and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?
As the mystery surrounding Tara Devi’s disappearance unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for improved communication and effective crowd management during such events.
Key Takeaways
- A 50-year-old woman, Tara Devi, went missing after the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) on February 15.
- She was found to have never deviated from her original plan to visit the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage in Prayagraj.
- Her husband, Gupteshwar Yadav, had searched frantically for her, only to discover she had safely made her way to Prayagraj and returned to Delhi on February 17.
- The case highlights the need for improved communication and crowd management during large-scale events.
Also Read: Delayed trains, rumors & mismanagement—how stampede unfolded at New Delhi railway station
