At least 116 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede at a ‘satsang’ (religous event) in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday. The state government has ordered a probe into the incident and dispatched three ministers to reach the spot and monitor relief work.
Inspector General (Aligarh) Shalabh Mathur confirmed that 116 people have died so far. “An FIR will be filed against the organisers of the satsang as the crowd at the event was more than what was permitted. A high-level enquiry has been ordered,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, who visited the stampede site, said that out of the 116 people who died, 108 were women, seven children and one man. Of these, 72 people have been identified so far, he said.
“An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured has been announced by the state government. The same amount will be given by the central government as well,” he said.
The satsang was organised 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 on the lookout for Bhole Baba, who has not been found after the stampede incident.
According to eyewitnesses, the devotees suffocated to their deaths and bodies piled atop each other in the stampede -– among the biggest such tragedies in recent years. They were rushed to the district’s Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre and the government hospital in Etah.
Videos from the spot showed people bringing the victims, dead or unconscious, in ambulances, trucks and cars to Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre. Heartbreaking scenes unfolded as many of the injured were seen lying near the entrance of the hospital surrounded by anxious relatives.
According to Sikandra Rao sub divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the stampede took place when devotees tried to get a glimpse of the Bhole Baba, who conducted the ‘satsang’, at the end of the event.
They also wanted to collect some soil from around the baba’s feet, he told news agency PTI.
In a statement, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “The incident is extremely sad and heart-wrenching… Local organisers had organised a program of ‘Bhole Baba’. After the program, when the preacher of the Satsang was coming down from the stage, suddenly a crowd of devotees started going towards him to touch him and when the ‘sevadars’ stopped them, this accident happened there.”
“To investigate this entire matter, we have formed a team under the chairmanship of Additional DG Agra and have asked them to give a detailed report. In view of the incident, the Chief Secretary and DGP of the state are camping there. Three ministers of the state government Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan, Sandeep Singh, Asim Arun, all three of them are at the spot,” he added.
EYEWITNESSES RECALL HORROR
Recalling the horrific 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 exit towards the field, suddenly, a commotion started, and we didn’t know what to do. Many people have died.”
“After the satsang ended, everyone came out. Outside, the road was built at a height with a drain below. One after the other, people started falling into it. Some people got crushed,” said another eyewitness.
LEADERS OFFER CONDOLENCES
Expressing condolences to the families of those who have died, President Droupadi Murmu stated that the incident was heart-rending.
“The news of the death of many devotees, including women and children, in the accident in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” she posted on her official X handle.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was replying to the Motion of Thanks to President’s address in Parliament, stopped his speech midway to offer condolences to the families of Hathras stampede victims. “I am receiving news of a tragic death in Hathras. I express my condolences to those who have lost their lives and wish for the injured to recover soon. The state government is engaged in rescue operations. The central government is in contact. All possible help will be provided to the victims,” he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and assured him of all possible help from the Centre. “Spoke to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri @myogiadityanath ji, regarding the accident in Hathras and got information about the incident and assured all possible help from the central government. NDRF medical team is also reaching Hathras soon,” he wrote on X in Hindi.
Slamming the UP government, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “Since the state government was earlier notified about the large number of people going to attend the satsang, it was their responsibility to ensure that appropriate measures should be taken.”
Calling it an “extremely painful” incident, Lok Sabha’s Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said, “I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured. The government and administration are requested to provide every possible treatment to the injured and relief to the affected families. All workers of India are requested to provide their cooperation in relief and rescue.”
In the wake of the incident, the district administration issued helplines: 05722227041 and 05722227042.
(Inputs by Devesh Pal and Madan Gopal)
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