Due to Increased Slipping at Ladder Ghat and Temple Ghat, Several Injured Including a Devotee from Nepal, Questions Raised on Administration's Arrangements
Bhagalpur/Sultanganj: A massive crowd of Kanwarias heading towards Deoghar is currently thronging the famous Uttar Vahini Ganga coast in Sultanganj, but continuous rainfall has made the pilgrims' journey extremely difficult and dangerous. Due to the rain, slippery conditions have drastically increased at the main Ladder Ghat (Seedi Ghat) and Temple Ghat of Ajgabinath Dham, making it a nightmare for Kanwarias carrying holy water to proceed toward Baba Baidyanath. The situation has become so critical that accidents are occurring continuously at the ghats, and due to a lack of robust security arrangements by the administration, deep resentment is visible among the devotees.
Mud and Algae Spread Across the Ghats, Turning Them Into a Death Trap
Even during normal days or the month of Sawan, there is heavy movement of Kanwarias at the Seedi Ghat and Temple Ghat in Sultanganj. The mixing of water and mud during Ganga bathing and water collection causes a heavy layer of algae and slippery mud to accumulate on the stairs. Torrential rains over the past few days have made this situation even more severe. Due to the lack of railings or adequate anti-skid matting on the ghat stairs, there is a constant risk of slipping at every step. When pilgrims place their feet on these wet stairs while carrying heavy Kanw-pals and the weight of Ganges water on their shoulders, their balance gets disrupted, and they crash down heavily.
62-Year-Old Dharma Shila Devi Seriously Injured, Forced to Cut Journey Short and Return Home
Dharma Shila Devi, a 62-year-old elderly woman, fell victim to this rainy and slippery environment. Without caring for her age and health, she had reached Sultanganj with profound faith to seek darshan and perform Jalabhishek of Baba Baidyanath. After taking a bath in the Ganges at the Seedi Ghat, as she was climbing the stairs to collect water, her foot suddenly slipped.
The slipperiness was so severe that she could not steady herself and fell hard onto the stairs. In this unfortunate accident, she sustained serious injuries to her body and legs. Other Kanwarias and locals present at the spot immediately picked her up and rushed her to a nearby health center for first aid. Due to her severe injuries, doctors advised her to take complete rest and immediately cancel her journey. With tearful eyes and a broken spirit, Dharma Shila Devi was forced to return home mid-way without fulfilling her wish. Her condition deeply shook everyone present there.
Nandlal Sardar from Nepal Also Falls Victim to Accident
Not only from various states across the country, but a large number of devotees from the neighboring country of Nepal also visit Sultanganj to pay their respects at Baba's court. Nandlal Sardar, who arrived after completing a long and faith-filled journey from Nepal, also fell prey to this dangerous slipperiness.
As Nandlal Sardar was moving forward to collect Ganges water near the Temple Ghat, his balance suddenly gave way, and he fell down the stairs due to the slippery surface. Fortunately, he did not sustain life-threatening or extremely severe injuries, but his hands and knees were badly grazed. After this incident, he was deeply shaken. Nandlal, who came from Nepal, shared that he had traveled thousands of hours and miles to worship Baba, but the mismanagement by the local administration and the poor condition of the ghats made his journey hazardous right from the start.
Outrage Among Locals and Kanwarias Against the Administration
Following these incidents, deep anger towards the administration was witnessed among other Kanwarias and members of the local panda community present at the Seedi Ghat and Temple Ghat. Locals allege that the district administration and municipal council are well aware that slipperiness increases at the Ganges ghats during the rainy season, yet no concrete steps are taken in time.
Lack of Anti-Skid Mats: Rubber mats or sacks have not been spread on the stairs of the ghats to provide a secure footing.
Neglect of Cleanliness: Due to the failure to regularly spray bleaching powder or lime, the layer of algae has become even slicker.
Inertia of Security Personnel: Adequate volunteers or police personnel are not seen deployed to guide Kanwarias or assist the elderly in preventing slips.
When Will the Administration Wake Up?
When elderly mothers like Dharma Shila Devi and foreign devotees like Nandlal Sardar return injured due to administrative negligence right after taking a holy dip of faith, it raises a major question mark on the system. Until the time of writing this report, no special war-footing measures had been initiated by the local administration to curb the slipperiness at the ghats.
If the administration fails to arrange sandbags, rubber matting, and continuous cleaning at the Seedi Ghat and Temple Ghat in a timely manner, this slipperiness could invite another major accident in the coming days. Kanwarias have strongly demanded that the administration immediately put robust safety and facility arrangements in place at all major ghats so that no other Shiva devotee falls victim to such an accident.
