The death toll from the tragic stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, India, has risen to 121, with the majority of victims being women and children. The incident occurred on July 2, 2024, during a ‘satsang’ (religious discourse) led by spiritual leader Suraj Pal Singh, also known as Bhole Baba.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a judicial probe into the incident, to be led by a retired High Court judge. Additionally, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the tragedy. The Chief Minister visited the site on July 3, meeting with injured victims at the district hospital and expressing condolences to the families of the deceased.In his first public statement since the incident, Bhole Baba claimed that ‘anti-social elements’ were responsible for the stampede. He stated that he had left the venue before the chaos erupted. However, a preliminary probe by a sub-divisional magistrate suggests that the stampede was caused by devotees being pushed by the godman’s security personnel and a slippery slope.The tragedy has raised questions about event management and safety measures. Reports indicate that while organizers had permission for 80,000 attendees, the crowd swelled to an estimated 250,000 people. Only 70 police officers were reportedly on site to manage the massive gathering.Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, have criticized the government’s handling of the situation, citing administrative negligence. Meanwhile, the police have filed an FIR against the event organizers, accusing them of hiding evidence and violating safety conditions.This incident stands as one of India’s deadliest crowd disasters in recent years, echoing similar tragedies at religious gatherings in 2013 and 2011. It underscores the ongoing challenges of managing large gatherings in the country and the need for stricter safety protocols at such events.
Key points
- The death toll from the Hathras stampede has risen to 121, with most victims being women and children.
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a judicial probe and visited the site, meeting with injured victims.
- Bhole Baba, the spiritual leader at the event, claims ‘anti-social elements’ were responsible for the stampede.
- The event drew an estimated 250,000 attendees, far exceeding the permitted capacity of 80,000.
Contradictions👾While Bhole Baba claims ‘anti-social elements’ were responsible for the stampede, a preliminary probe suggests it was caused by his security personnel pushing devotees.
👾There are differing accounts of the permitted crowd size, with some sources citing 80,000 and others mentioning 5,000.
