At least 121 people, including 106 women and seven children, were killed after a stampede broke out at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on Tuesday, officials have said.
The stampede occurred during a 'satsang' (prayer meeting) which was attended by thousands. Visuals from the Community Health Centre showed several bodies being brought there in buses and tempos in the presence of crying relatives.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken note of the incident and, on his directions, a committee has been set up to investigate the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu also expressed their condolences to the families of those who were killed and said they were praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. PM Modi said the Centre is extending all possible help to the Uttar Pradesh government.
Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said that, according to numbers received from the community health centre, 50-60 people were killed. Officials in Etah district confirmed the deaths of an additional 27.
Later in the evening, Inspector General (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur, said the number had gone up to 116. Officials in the morning said the number has gone up to 121.
"The stampede broke out in Phulrai village within the Sikandra Rao police station limits in Hathras. This was a private event and permission had been given by the sub-divisional magistrate. Security arrangements were made by the administration but the other arrangements were supposed to be made by the organisers," Mr Kumar said.
Chief Medical Officer, Etah, Dr Umesh Kumar Tripathi, said, "We have received 27 bodies, of which 25 are female and two are male. Some injured have also been taken to hospitals. We have heard that there was a stampede during a 'satsang'." Senior Superintendent of Police (Etah) Rajesh Kumar revealed that the bodies of three children were among those that were brought to the district.
IG Shalabh Mathur said, "So far, 166 deaths have been confirmed. 27 bodies are in the Etah mortuary and the rest are in Hathras. They have been sent for post-mortem to different places. We are working hard to ensure that the injured get the best possible treatment at the earliest. A case is being registered and the names of the people who took permission for the event will be added. Prima facie, it appears that there were more people than were allowed."
A woman who attended the 'satsang' said it was organised in honour of a local guru, Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari, and the stampede broke out as the crowd began to leave. Sources said devotees were stopped from leaving until the self-styled guru's car left, causing a big crowd build-up in a small area.
Slippers, believed to be of devotees, at the spot where the stampede occurred.
A compensation of Rs 2 lakh each has been announced for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Officials said a case will be registered against the organisers.
Probe Committee Formed
In a post on X, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said instructions have been given to officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing and to provide proper treatment to the injured. He said two state ministers, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh, have left for the village and the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police have also been sent there.
Expressing his condolences to the families of those who have died, the chief minister said a committee has been set up to investigate the incident. The panel will be headed by the Additional Director General of Police, Agra, and the Aligarh Commissioner.
In a post on X President Droupadi Murmu said 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 in Hindi.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also extended his condolences and requested workers from the INDIA alliance to help with the rescue and relief efforts.
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