Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, July 3: A devastating stampede at a religious event in Hathras on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 121 people, including 106 women and seven children. The tragedy occurred during a ‘satsang’ (prayer meeting) that attracted thousands of attendees.
The chaotic scene unfolded as several bodies were transported to the Community Health Centre in buses and tempos, amidst the anguished cries of relatives. The incident has prompted immediate action from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the cause of the stampede. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu expressed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and extended their prayers for the swift recovery of the injured. The Prime Minister assured that the Centre would provide all necessary assistance to the Uttar Pradesh government.
Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar reported that initial figures from the health centre indicated 50-60 fatalities, with an additional 27 deaths confirmed by officials in Etah district. Later in the evening, Inspector General (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur confirmed the death toll had risen to 121.
The stampede occurred in Phulrai village, within the Sikandra Rao police station limits. The event, which had official permission, saw security arrangements by the administration, but other logistical arrangements were left to the organizers. Chief Medical Officer of Etah, Dr. Umesh Kumar Tripathi, stated, “We have received 27 bodies, of which 25 are female and two are male. Some injured have also been taken to hospitals.”
Senior Superintendent of Police (Etah) Rajesh Kumar confirmed the arrival of three children’s bodies at the district. IG Shalabh Mathur added, “So far, 116 deaths have been confirmed. 27 bodies are in the Etah mortuary, and the rest are in Hathras. They have been sent for post-mortem to different places. We are working hard to ensure that the injured get the best possible treatment at the earliest. A case is being registered, and the names of the event’s organizers will be included. Prima facie, it appears that the crowd exceeded the allowed capacity.”
A witness stated that the ‘satsang’ was in honor of local guru Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari. The stampede began as the crowd tried to exit, reportedly exacerbated by restrictions placed on their departure until the guru’s car had left, leading to a buildup of people in a confined area.
In response, a compensation of ₹2 lakh for each of the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured has been announced. Officials have indicated that legal action will be taken against the event’s organizers.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a social media post, directed officials to conduct relief and rescue operations promptly and ensure proper treatment for the injured. State ministers Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh, as well as the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, have been dispatched to the site to oversee the efforts.
Expressing her sorrow, President Droupadi Murmu described the incident as “heart-rending” and extended her deepest condolences to the families affected. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also conveyed his sympathies and urged members of the INDIA bloc to assist in the relief efforts.
