8 missing Nepalis return home from Kumbh mela

RAUTAHAT, Feb 17 : Eight of the Nepalis, who went missing from the world´s biggest religious festival Kumbhmela in Allahabad, have returned home on Friday evening. Thirty-five people had died in a terrifying stampede as pilgrims headed home from the festival on February 9.



According to Shree Narayan Jha, a local, Birendra Jha, Taeti Devi Jha, Champa Devi Jha and Bhakuliya Devi Jha of Sangrampur VDC-8 of Rautahat, among others, returned home. [break]



A group of missing devotees, who had left from Hathiyahi VDC-1 for the festival, has also come into contact at Brindaban of India. It has been learnt that they had continued their pilgrimage after taking a dip in Ganges River, informed Prem Chandra Jha, former secretary of the Rautahat chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists.



“Another 38 devotees from the same VDC have also come into contact and they will return home within two days,” said Jha.



Meanwhile, Rashmi Devi Jha of Gaur municipality-8, who returned home on Friday, informed that she had helped several lost Nepali pilgrims reach Betiya of West Champaran.



Some 30 million pilgrims from around the globe had taken a dip in the Ganges River during the festival.



Superintendent of Police Govindaram Pariyar said police have been deployed to find out the exact numbers of pilgrims who had left for the festival.

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