Chitradurga Naga Sadhu among Maha Kumbh victims

Chitradurga: A 48-year-old Naga Sadhu of the Chitradurga-based Banjara Gurupeetha was among those who died in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Wednesday.

Office-bearers of the Gurupeetha confirmed that Naganath Maharaj was among the casualties of the stampede at Maha Kumbh.

Naganath Maharaj, who had been living at the Gurupeetha for the past seven years, was fondly remembered by Sevalal Swami here.

The news of his death plunged the Gurupeetha in grief, he added.

"Naganath Maharaj's words were a source of inspiration for us. In fact, he had asked me to join him on his journey to Prayagraj. The divine being that he was, it was a surprise for us all that he chose to come and stay at our Gurupeetha. None of us here knows where he was from originally, or his origins," he said.

In Prayagraj, Naganath Maharaj had listed his address as 'Banjara Gurupeetha', which helped the authorities ascertain that he was from Karnataka.