World
Vinod Kumar’s Heartbreaking Search for His Loved Ones
Follow Vinod Kumar’s emotional journey as he embarks on a heartbreaking search for his missing loved ones, revealing a story of love, loss, and hope in the face of adversity.
Vinod Kumar, a hardworking mason, was away from home on Tuesday as usual, seeking work when tragedy struck. He received the devastating news that all the women in his family – spanning three generations – had perished in a stampede.
For the rest of the day, Mr. Kumar and his three sons frantically searched hospitals for their beloved family members among the 121 victims of the deadly stampede that occurred during a spiritual guru gathering.
Close to midnight, their worst fears were confirmed as they identified the bodies of his wife, Raj Kumari, 42, and daughter, Bhumi, 9, at the government hospital in Hathras. The sight of his loved ones, including Bhumi in her yellow top with a ponytail tied with a pink band, laid out on slabs of ice among the other casualties, brought Mr. Kumar to his knees in sorrow.
Amidst his grief, Mr. Kumar had to stay focused as his mother’s body was still missing. He tearfully embraced his daughter one last time before Nitin, his eldest son, gently reminded him to let Bhumi rest as they continued their search.