Inspector Ganga Prasad’s adventures at Kumbh Mela: Saving countless lives during disaster

During one of the most critical and chaotic moments at the Kumbh Mela, Inspector Ganga Prasad appeared like a hero, calming down the crowd of lakhs of people. Amidst utter chaos, the situation was getting out of control, and then Prasad’s quick thinking and tireless efforts along with his fearless spirit saved the lives of hundreds of people.

Describing the scene, Inspector Ganga Prasad said that it was one of the scariest moments he had ever witnessed. Prasad said, “It seemed to be the most terrifying moment of my life, where thousands of people could have died. Still, I stood firm with unwavering confidence and without losing patience, I ensured that everyone was safe.” His voice, resonating throughout the district on the wireless system, conveyed a sense of urgency as he constantly gave orders to evacuate people from the horrific situation.

At one point, the crowd became so uncontrollable that Inspector Ganga Prasad had to plead with someone to save his life. However, with the support of his colleagues and his determination to save lives, he went ahead. “The crowd was so out of control that for a moment I thought we were going to witness the most horrific scene of our lives,” he recalled. “But with the grace of God and the support of the people, I kept my composure and continued to struggle to save lives.” For more than an hour and a half, Inspector Ganga Prasad struggled to save innocent lives, confronted top officials and pressed for additional forces to the area. “The situation was very bad. No one could go even 10 metres inside and the force could not enter,” he said. But his courage did not wane.

He pacified the crowd, ready to take the law into their own hands. “I appealed to the people present in the nearby camps to open the gate. I challenged them to break the barrier and as soon as they did so, a small path opened up in which we saved people’s lives.” One of the most poignant moments that I find heart-wrenching happened during that incident. “I was standing on top of a Scorpio vehicle trying to save as many people as possible when a woman with a six-month-old baby in her arms screamed for help and said she was suffocating,” he recalled. At that moment, Prasad made a life-changing decision.

He jumped from his vehicle into another vehicle and rushed to the distraught mother. “I took the baby from her arms, knowing she feared for her life,” he recalled. “She handed over her baby to me with the hope that the baby would survive, even if he didn’t.”

Although there was no video to capture the moment, Inspector Ganga Prasad said the scene was extremely emotional, with the mother’s desperate pleas forever etched in his memory. “It was probably the most precious and priceless moment of my life,” he said, his voice filled with both pride and sadness.

Inspector Ganga Prasad’s actions at the Kumbh Mela are a testament to his dedication, bravery and selflessness. Faced with unimaginable chaos, he not only saved lives but also inspired countless others with his unwavering commitment to humanity.