‘Sudden spark, shrieks before we could react'

Time of India

28-07-2025

Lucknow: A wave of grief swept through Barabanki's Ausaneshwar Mahadev Temple in the early hours of Monday as two pilgrims — Ramesh Kumar (28) and Prashant Kumar (17) — lost their lives to electrocution during the 'Jal Abhishek' ritual on the third Monday of Shrawan.
The tragedy unfolded around 2.30 am when an iron rod and tin shed — part of a makeshift structure installed to manage the crowds — reportedly became live due to a short circuit. Thousands of barefoot devotees stood in queue, unaware that the very structure meant to protect them was about to claim lives.
"There was a sudden spark, then shrieks. We watched helplessly as Ramesh and Prashant collapsed. By the time anyone could react, they were gone," said Vivek, a friend who accompanied them.
Ramesh, 28, a humble farmer from Nakta Saheliya village, travelled with a group of 10–15 villagers, including his pregnant wife Lalita Devi.
He was also father to a 14-month-old boy. "He stayed behind to help someone. The rest of us passed through. We turned around when we heard a thud. He lay motionless," recounted Ramu, his eyes brimming with tears.
Lalita, now a widow, and eight month pregnant clutched her 14-month-old baby as she sat numb outside the mortuary.
"He went to seek blessings for our child and never came back. How can a temple — a place of God — take him away?" she sobbed. Ramesh was the sole breadwinner of the family.
The second victim, Prashant Kumar, barely 17, went with his father and a few elders from his village. "He was the light of our home," said Ram Kripal, his father, breaking down. "God should have taken me, not my son. He had his whole life ahead."
Eyewitnesses allege gross negligence in the temple's temporary setup. "There was stagnant water, exposed wires, and metal supports. Everyone was barefoot. It was an accident waiting to happen," said Ankit Dev, a local.