Abandoned by son for Kumbh, ailing mother survives on 'chura'
What's the story
A Jharkhand man has been accused of locking up his ailing mother at home while he and his family went to the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
The 65-year-old woman, Sanju Devi, was kept in a Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) quarter in Subhash Nagar colony, reported The Times of India.
She survived on chura or flattened rice till police rescued her after neighbors heard her cries of hunger and alerted her daughter, Chandni Devi.
Rescue operation
Police rescue and hospitalize abandoned woman
Upon receiving the distress call from Chandni, Ramgarh police swung into action.
Ramgarh Sub-Divisional Police Officer Parmeshwar Prasad confirmed Akhilesh Kumar, the victim's son, had locked his mother inside before leaving for the pilgrimage.
Though Kumar claimed he had made arrangements for her care, evidence proved otherwise.
The police broke open the lock and rescued Devi, giving her food and medical attention before admitting her to CCL hospital for further treatment.
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The elderly mother was taken out of house by neighbors
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Mother locked in house, son in Mahakumbh
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Ongoing event
Maha Kumbh continues amid Ganga water purity concerns
Meanwhile, the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj continues to attract massive crowds, with over 580 million pilgrims having taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam since the event started.
This is despite a Central Pollution Control Board report highlighting high fecal coliform levels in the river.
However, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured Sangam water remains fit for bathing, with his government citing a scientist's remarks that Ganga water is "as pure as alkaline water."