At least 116 people died and over 200 injured in a stampede at a religious event in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh on July 2.
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The incident occurred during a ‘satsang’ (prayer meeting) organised by self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari in Fulrai village under the Sikandrarau police station area of Hathras district, which was reportedly attended by over one lakh people, mostly women.
Inspector General of Police for the Aligarh Range, Shalabh Mathur, said 116 bodies were identified so far among which 27 were sent to the Etah mortuary and the rest were in Hathras.
“Bodies were sent to nerarby places for post-mortem as we intend to hand over the bodies to their families as soon as possible,” Mr. Mathur said.
He said a First Information Report was being registered against the organisers of the event under relevant Sections.
In view of the accident, the district administration has issued helplines 05722227041 and 05722227042 for the help of the general public, the official X handle of District Magistrate Hathras said in a post.
Heart-wrenching scenes
Heart-wrenching visuals were shared by eyewitnesses from the spot in which bodies were lying outside the post-mortem house while kin of the deceased were crying for help. Eyewitnesses claimed that no ambulance was available at the spot and the police failed to control the crowd that went out of control when devotees rushed to greet the godman, at the end of the ‘satsang’. According to Sikandrarau sub-divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the devotees also wanted to collect some soil from around the baba’s feet.
“How can they allow such a big event to happen when there was no preparedness for any untoward incident,” asked Sumit Kumar, an eyewitness, who said the death toll could cross 150.
At a community health care centre in Hathras, people started protesting when no doctor was available to attend the injured persons. Videos of people taking bodies and the injured in tempos also went viral on social media.
Ashish Kumar, District Magistrate, Hathras, said permission for the event was given by the sub-divisional magistrate and rest of the arrangements were supposed to be done by the organisers. He said that in the initial investigation, it was found that more than double the number of attendees reached the event than those permitted.
CM sets up panel
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath formed a committee to investigate the cause.
“The loss of life in the unfortunate accident in Hathras district is extremely sad and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families,” he said.
Devotees at the religious gathering where a stampede broke out, in Hathras on July 2, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
Mr. Adityanath said instructions had been given to officials to take up relief and rescue operations on a war footing and to provide proper treatment to the injured. He is likely to visit Hathras on July 3, a senior government official said. The official said the U.P. Chief Minister is taking stock of the situation around the clock.
The Chief Minister also asked Ministers Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh to visit the spot. He directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to reach the incident site.
The State Government announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh to those who died while ₹50,000 would be given to the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Mr. Adityanath and took stock of the situation.
“My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured,” Mr. Modi wrote on X.
President, Congress condole loss of lives
President Droupadi Murmu said the loss of lives in a stampede in Hathras was heart-rending and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“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,” Ms. Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.
In a post in Hindi on X, Home Minister Amit Shah said he is deeply saddened by the tragic accident in Hathras. “I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. May God give them strength to bear this pain. The local administration is engaged in relief work. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he wrote.
The Congress also condoled the deaths and urged the government to leave no stone unturned in treating the injured as well as provide immediate compensation to the victims.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the news of death of many devotees is extremely painful.
“The scenes at the accident are extremely heart-rending. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We urge the government and administration to leave no stone unturned in treating the injured and provide immediate compensation to the victims,” Mr. Kharge said.
Police personnel outside a hospital where victims of the Hathras’ stampede are admitted, in Etah on July 2, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
Workers of Opposition parties are requested to provide all possible help to the people affected, he said.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed condolences to the bereaved families and hoped 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,” he said.
He also requested all workers of the INDIA bloc to provide their cooperation in relief and rescue.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said the news of death of a large number of devotees was heart-breaking.
“May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she said.
“I appeal to the State Government to provide proper compensation to the victims and make arrangements for the treatment of the injured,” she said.
Envoys express grief
Envoys of several countries mourned the loss of lives in a stampede in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
Published - July 02, 2024 04:58 pm IST
