Sangam: Indore tragedy victims’ ashes immersed

Prayagraj: The ashes of victims, who lost their lives due to diarrhoea and vomiting following supply of contaminated water in Indore's Bhagirathpura tragedy in Dec and Jan, were immersed by their family members and relatives at the sacred Sangam confluence on Sunday amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras.Digambar, who arrived in Prayagraj to immerse the ashes of his son, said that he found peace after the ritual. He expressed his gratitude to the people who arranged all sorts of facilities at the Sangam. Khoobchand Badhaiya, another group member who was here for a relative who lost life in Bhagirathpur tragedy, said that he experienced a profound sense of relief after immersing the ashes at the sacred place. The Congress party bore the cost of the pilgrimage and rituals. Senior Congress leader and pilgrimage coordinator Kishore Varshney said that a 60-member delegation arrived in Prayagraj on Sunday morning.He said two members from each of the families were provided with complimentary rail travel, meals, and all necessary logistical arrangements. Upon their arrival, the delegation was formally picked up by the Congressmen and taken to a local guesthouse.At the Sangam, in accordance with the traditions of Sanatan Dharma, a group of learned priests led by Pt Anoop Tripathi conducted the rituals, including immersion of the ashes, pind daan and tarpan and other such rites. A meal was also served to 51 Brahmins, he said. The families had left Indore on Saturday.The contaminated tap water in Indore's Bhagirathpura resulted in multiple deaths and hundreds falling ill. While the initial official death toll was put at 10, residents claimed higher numbers. While some families had previously immersed ashes in the Narmada, 22 families chose this organised pilgrimage to find closure.