Kolkata: Thousands of pilgrims walked up the hill to reach the Sanctum Sanctorum in Vaishno Devi early on Saturday, did not understand the raids reportedly killing 12 people.
Salt Lake Resident Barnali Saha is among those who go to pray at Vaishno Devi temple and have to stop almost 500 meters from the temple, minutes after the situation changes getting worse.
“I have never been so scared in my life.
There is no administration or police to keep the pilgrims.
Thousands are still walking on a hill without clues about what just happened,” he told Ti by telephone.
Saha took his nine-year-old son to the corner and put his arms to protect him from all possible hazards from the crowd of swelling.
It continued for some time before his family members managed to reach them and save them from the place.
Saha and his family, including Ajay’s husband and his son, left Srinagar and reached Katra on Saturday morning.
They rented a horse and Saha and his son ride a hill.
“Four other team members were walking on the hill.
The horse owner has started asking for the premium and we must agree to one horse we took.
There are two roads from Adhugu, which leads to the Vaishno Devi temple area.
However, the road is in a condition Better, still closed for pilgrims, “he said.
Nearly 500 meters from the temple area, Saha stopped the horse when he saw a sea of ​​pilgrims ahead.
It was around 2.30 in the morning.
When he began asking about the reason, someone told him that there was a raid a few minutes before and some people had died.
“We were told that chaos had started and would not be safe to go up the hill.
There were thousands in front of me and more pilgrims appeared.
The Covid protocol has gone for a throw and there is a mismanagement,” he said.
“I desperately try to find anyone from administration or police to seek help.
My cellphone doesn’t work and I can’t even contact my family member.
But there is no such person.
I’m afraid of my child, who can also find out there is a danger From the swollen crowd.
If the crowd is turbulent, it is impossible for us to be saved, “said Saha.
He managed to borrow a telephone from a stranger and called her husband.
“I’ve decided not to advance again.
We went to the street corner and waited for our family.
Every minute it looks like an hour,” he said.
Saha’s family member finally managed to save the duo and they went down the hill to Katra.
In the morning, the family returns to your watch by car.