In a bizarre turn of events, a man presumed dead following the tragic Mahakumbh Mela stampede on January 29 stunned his family and neighbours by returning home—just in time for his own 'tehrvi,' the thirteenth-day post-death ritual.

Khunti Guru, a resident of Chahchand Gali in the Zero Road area of Prayagraj, was believed to have perished in the stampede at the Sangam on Mauni Amavasya.

When extensive search efforts failed to locate him, his family and neighbours, assuming the worst, performed the traditional mourning rites to honour his spirit.

However, Guru had merely lost track of time while spending days in the company of sadhus, smoking chillums and engaging in spiritual discussions.

Unaware of the turmoil back home, he finally returned nearly two weeks later, stepping out of an e-rickshaw to find his shocked neighbours gathered for his memorial ceremony, The Indian Express reported.

“What are you all up to?” he reportedly asked, leaving everyone speechless.

Social worker Abhai Awasthi recounting the episode to the newspaper said that Guru had left home on the evening of January 28, telling others he was heading to Sangam for a ritual dip. When news of the deadly stampede broke the next morning and Guru failed to return, panic ensued. 

Despite multiple search operations, there was no sign of him, leading the community to conclude he had died in the chaos.

The Mahakumbh Mela stampede, which occurred on January 29, claimed 30 lives and left 60 others injured as overwhelming crowds rushed towards the Sangam Nose.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged that the administration struggled to manage the massive influx of pilgrims arriving for Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious bathing days of the festival.