close_game
close_game

107 dead in stampede at religious preacher’s congregation in UP’s Hathras

Jul 02, 2024 06:39 PM IST

Hathras stampede: Initial reports indicated that the stampede started soon after the women rushed out of the venue

AGRA: At least 107 people, most of them women, were killed in a stampede at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district on Tuesday evening, senior state police officers said.

Hathras stampede: Inspector General (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur said temporary permission was sought and given for the ‘satsang’ at the venue in a Hathras village (HT Photo)
Hathras stampede: Inspector General (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur said temporary permission was sought and given for the ‘satsang’ at the venue in a Hathras village (HT Photo)

Additional director general (Agra zone), Anupam Kulshrestha’s office said most of the 107 deaths were women. Officials said the precise circumstances that led to the stampede were immediately unclear.

Initial reports suggested that the stampede started soon after the women rushed out of the venue after the religious congregation of religious preacher Bhole Baba ended.

Inspector general Aligarh Range Shalabh Mathur said prima facie, it appeared that some people felt suffocated at the premises because of the hot and humid weather and when the ‘satsang’ ended, those inside the enclosure rushed out resulting in a stampede killing mostly the women and children.

Jyoti, a teenager admitted to the district hospital in neighbouring Etah, said everyone wanted to get out of the enclosure in a hurry. “There was no other way out and people fell on each other leading to the stampede,” she said.

Jyoti recalled how she tried to exit the venue but motorcycles parked outside blocked her way “Many people fainted… others died,” Jyoti, who was brought to the hospital along with her mother, added.

Mathur said the religious preacher had sought permission to hold the congregation which was given.

Anupam Kulshrestha said the bodies were reaching the Etah district hospital for autopsy. The requisite steps are being taken, he added.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath later announced ex gratia assistance of 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and 50,000 for those injured. A first information report (FIR) will be filed against the organisers and stringent action will be taken against them, he added.

“Minister in the UP government, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, Sandeep Singh, have left for the incident site and have directed the Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and Director General of Police Prashant Kumar of the state to reach the incident site,” the chief minister said in his post on X.

Get Current Updates on...
See more
Get Current Updates on India News, Weather Today along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India. along with Assembly Election 2024, Maharashtra Election, Jharkhand Election news.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, November 08, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On
// // //