The Allahabad High Court has strongly criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for its careless handling of a woman’s death during the 2025 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

The Court noted that the woman’s body was handed over to her family without an inquest or autopsy, and that the ex-gratia compensation promised by the State was still unpaid.

The bench of Justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Sandeep Jain was hearing a plea by Uday Pratap Singh, who said his wife died under suspicious circumstances during the Mela. He claimed the authorities never explained how her body ended up at the mortuary of Motilal Nehru Medical College.

The State government presented details of the medical arrangements at the Mela, which included several hospitals and health centres, as well as beds reserved for emergency cases. However, the Court noted that there was no proper record showing how the woman’s body reached the mortuary. It also raised serious concerns since the cause of death seemed to involve crush injuries, yet no post-mortem was done.

The Court rejected the government’s argument that compensation wasn’t paid because the petitioner hadn’t applied for it. It said the State should not expect grieving families, who come from distant places, to run around for compensation. “Once the State announced financial help, it had a duty to pay it with dignity and without delay,” the Court said.

The Court reminded the government that it is responsible for the safety of its citizens and must also act with care when such tragedies occur under its watch.

Due to these serious lapses, the Court has asked various hospitals and medical bodies to file detailed reports about patient admissions, deaths, and how dead bodies were handled during the Mela period. The State must also submit information on all ex-gratia claims.

The case will be heard again on July 18, 2025.

Case Title: Uday Pratap Singh v. State of UP & Others