Tragic stampede at religious event in UP kills 116

Hathras, July 3: At least 116 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede at a 'satsang' (religious event) in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on Tuesday. The state government has ordered a probe into the incident and dispatched three ministers to the site to monitor relief efforts.

Inspector General (Aligarh) Shalabh Mathur confirmed the death toll, stating, "An FIR will be filed against the organizers of the satsang as the crowd at the event exceeded permitted limits. A high-level inquiry has been ordered."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, who visited the stampede site, reported that out of the 116 deceased, 108 were women, seven were children, and one was a man. So far, 72 people have been identified, he said.

"An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured has been announced by the state government. The central government will match this amount," Singh added.

The satsang was organized by the Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam Committee for self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as Sakar Vishwa Hari or Bhole Baba. The police are currently searching for Bhole Baba, who has not been located since the incident.

Eyewitnesses described the horrific scene, where devotees suffocated to death and bodies piled atop each other in one of the biggest such tragedies in recent years. Victims were rushed to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre and the government hospital in Etah.

Videos from the site showed people transporting the victims, dead or unconscious, in ambulances, trucks, and cars to Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre. Heartbreaking scenes unfolded as many of the injured lay near the hospital entrance, surrounded by anxious relatives.

According to Sikandara Rao Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the stampede occurred when devotees tried to catch a glimpse of Bhole Baba at the end of the event. They also wanted to collect soil from around his feet, he told news agency PTI.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the incident as "extremely sad and heart-wrenching." He explained, "Local organizers had arranged a program for Bhole Baba. After the program, when the preacher of the satsang was descending from the stage, a crowd of devotees surged towards him. When the 'sevadars' tried to stop them, the stampede occurred."

"We have formed a team under the chairmanship of Additional DG Agra to investigate this entire matter and have asked them to provide a detailed report. In light of the incident, the Chief Secretary and DGP of the state are stationed there. State ministers Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan, Sandeep Singh, and Asim Arun are also at the site," he added.

Recounting the incident, an eyewitness said, "We had come for the satsang. It was a large crowd. Once the satsang ended, we started leaving. The exit was narrow. As we tried to move towards the field, suddenly, a commotion started, and we didn’t know what to do. Many people have died."

Another eyewitness added, "After the satsang ended, everyone came out. Outside, the road was built at a height with a drain below. One after another, people started falling into it. Some people got crushed."