Agra, July 3, 2024 — In a devastating incident during a religious gathering in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday, at least 116 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives, and over 300 were injured. The tragic stampede occurred while religious preacher ‘Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba was addressing his followers at a specially erected tent between the villages of Fhulrai and Mughalghadi in the Sikandra Rau area.
Details of the Incident
The number of fatalities was confirmed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar, who visited the site in the late evening to assess the situation. The exact cause of the stampede remains unclear, though several theories suggest that the hot and humid conditions at the venue may have led to discomfort among attendees, resulting in panic and chaos as people attempted to leave.
A police officer on duty at the event mentioned that the gathering likely exceeded one lakh people. “When the satsang ended, many people rushed to leave the venue while many others rushed in the opposite direction to touch the baba’s feet and take his blessings, thereby leading to chaos,” the officer explained.
Government Response
Following a high-level meeting at his residence, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated, “The state government will go in-depth to find whether it was an accident or a conspiracy. We will take the strictest action against the conspirators and those responsible for the tragedy.” Inspector General (Aligarh range) Shalabh Mathur noted that only temporary permission was granted for the gathering. Additional Director General (Agra zone) Anupam Kulshreshtha added that an FIR is being registered and the event organizers will be included in the case since the gathering exceeded the permitted number of attendees.
Eyewitness Accounts and Reactions
Prakash Kumar, an attendee from Aligarh who was injured, described the chaotic scene: “There was a large crowd at the site. There was no way out, and people fell on each other and fainted. When I tried to move out, there were motorcycles parked outside, which blocked my way.” Mahesh Chandra, a member of the organizing committee, attributed the stampede to the administration’s inefficiency. “People had fallen on the ground. Crowds were running over them, and there was no one to control them,” he alleged.
Medical Response and Challenges
The large number of casualties overwhelmed the local medical infrastructure, with not enough beds to accommodate the injured. “Those who were brought alive are dying due to lack of required medical infrastructure. Our hospital does not have enough oxygen to revive those who were unconscious,” said a nurse at Sikandra Rau trauma center.
Compensation Announced
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced grants of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, providing some relief to the grieving families.
Conclusion
The stampede at the religious gathering in Hathras district has left the community in mourning and raised serious questions about crowd management and safety measures at large events. As investigations continue, the focus remains on providing medical assistance to the injured and supporting the families of the victims.
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