A deadly stampede during a ‘satsang’ in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras has claimed the lives of 121 people. Numerous bodies lay on blocks of ice inside a government hospital, as wailing relatives of the victims waited outside to take the mortal remains back home. The victims were part of a crowd of thousands that had gathered near Phulrai village in the Sikandrarau area for the ‘satsang’ led by religious preacher Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh revealed that the event organizers had severely underestimated the number of attendees, initially citing 80,000, but was attended by over two lakh people. The site was overcrowded and there was extreme humidity. As the event concluded, devotees surged towards Baba Narayan Hari’s vehicle, leading to a tragic stampede. Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar confirmed that the police are actively searching for the godman involved.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Hathras and announced the formation of a team, including the ADG Agra and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner, to investigate the incident. The team is expected to submit their findings within 24 hours. Additionally, three ministers, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, Asim Arun, and Sandeep Singh, were dispatched to the site immediately after the incident to manage the situation and provide support.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured. In a press conference, CM Yogi Adityanath confirmed that 121 people had lost their lives and 31 were injured, all of whom are reported to be out of danger. The Chief Minister also announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the stampede further.
A judicial inquiry into the stampede will be conducted, led by a retired High Court judge, with a notification expected by the evening. CM Adityanath noted that the event organizers fled the scene after the incident and attempted to cover it up. The administration’s immediate priority was rescue operations, with victims coming from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Despite the initial investigation by the SIT, the Chief Minister highlighted that further inquiries would be conducted to explore all possible angles. The state government aims to prevent such incidents in the future through thorough investigation and proper measures.
The Uttar Pradesh Police filed an FIR regarding the stampede, but Bhole Baba, the preacher behind the ‘satsang’, whose original name is Suraj Pal Singh, was not named in the FIR. The state government has announced compensation for the families of the deceased. The District Magistrate clarified that the event was a private function authorized by the sub-divisional magistrate, with internal arrangements being the organizers’ responsibility.
