2024-07-03 18:20:02
A deadly stampede during a ‘satsang‘ in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras claimed the lives of 121 people on Tuesday. Scores of bodies were lying on blocks of ice inside a government hospital, as wailing relatives of the victims waited outside to take mortal remains back home. The victims were part of the crowd of thousands that had gathered near Phulrai village in the Sikandrarau area for the ‘satsang‘ by religious preacher Bhole Baba.
The stampede took place at around 3.30 pm. According to an eyewitness, thousands of people were there at the venue and when Baba was leaving, many of them rushed to touch his feet. As they were returning, people slipped and fell over one another as parts of the ground had turned boggy with water overflowing from a nearby drain.
HATHRAS STAMPEDE: WHAT HAPPENED SO FAR
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Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh told news agency PTI that overcrowding was one of the reasons behind the stampede. Singh said the application submitted by the event organisers seeking permission to hold the ‘satsang’ put the number of attendees at 80,000, but the actual number was much higher. A report said nearly 2.5 lakh people turned up for the event.
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As the ‘satsang’ concluded, devotees ran behind the vehicle of Baba Narayan Hari to touch his feet. It was then when people slipped and fell over one another. Speaking to news agency ANI, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar said the police were on the lookout for the godman.
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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today visited Hathras and met those injured in the stampede. Addressing a press conference later, the Chief Minister said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) would probe the stampede incident. He also said that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) would be created to avoid such incidents in the future.
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According to a government statement, a team consisting of ADG Agra and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner has been constituted to inquire into the cause of the incident. The report is to be submitted within 24 hours. Three ministers — Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, Asim Arun and Sandeep Singh — were sent to the spot soon after the incident.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow over the stampede incident and announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured. PM Modi also said senior officials of the central government were in constant contact with the Uttar Pradesh administration to coordinate aid efforts.
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The government released helpline numbers from different cities for those enquiring about their loved ones.
Agra Zone Control – 7839866849
Aligarh Range Control – 7839855724
Agra Range Control – 7839855724
Hathras Control – 9454417377
Etah Control – 9454417438
Aligarh Control – 7007459568 -
A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the organisers of the Hathras ‘satsang’. The complaint mentions overcrowding at the venue, and security lapse on the part of the organisers, thus calling for an investigation. Meanwhile, advocate Gaurav Dwivedi has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Allahabad High Court demanding a CBI inquiry into the Hathras stampede case. A copy of the FIR shows the sections under which the case has been filed.
Hathras Stampede case: FIR registered -
The stampede happened at the congregation of Baba Narayan Hari alias Saakar Vishwa Hari ‘Bhole Baba’, a former policeman who turned into a religious preacher two decades ago and gained a following, especially in western Uttar Pradesh. The real name of Bhole Baba is Surajpal. He is a native of Bahadur Nagar in Kasganj district, a retired IPS officer told PTI. Surajpal has no children and takes his wife along with him to ‘satsang’.
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Eyewitnesses and survivors of the Hathras stampede tragedy, in an exclusive conversation with Aaj Tak, India Today’s sister channel, said they considered themselves fortunate to have escaped. Some also said there was no sufficient deployment of the police force and that people were in a haste to get out of the venue due to heat.
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German, Chinese and French envoys mourned the loss of lives at the Hathras stampede and extended condolences to the victims’ families. In separate posts on X, the envoys extended sympathies and hoped for the quick recovery of those injured.
