New Delhi: A stampede that started at a religious gathering in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, Friday evening resulted in at least 121 deaths. At a “satsang” led by Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari, in front of more than two lakh people, a catastrophe took place.
Extreme humidity and crowding were present at the location. The satsang site, according to officials, was too tiny to hold the large assemblage of 2.5 lakh worshipers.
A lawsuit has been brought against the event’s organizers and a close assistant, or “mukhya sewadar,” of the self-proclaimed godman. However, Bhole Baba, whose real name is Suraj Pal Singh, is not included as an accused in the First Information Report, or FIR. According to police, they are looking into the organizers’ and the local government’s involvement. Over 2.5 lakh devotees attended the ceremony despite 80,000 persons having permission to participate, according to the FIR.
The FIR further claimed that the organizers failed to assist with traffic control, concealed evidence following the stampede, and concealed the true number of followers attending the “satsang” when requesting authorization.Prior to the rush, footage showed individuals listening to Bhole Baba in a sizable “shamiana.” The ‘baba’ occupied a chair that resembled a throne in front of them.
Witnesses said that a large throng had gathered in a tiny space as the satsang came to a conclusion. Some followers reportedly raced towards the exit, while others proceeded in the other way to gather the dirt the preacher had walked on.
“On the other side of the road, the crowd running in the water and mud-filled fields behind baba’s car was forcibly stopped by the organising committee with sticks, due to which the pressure of the crowd kept increasing and women, children, and men kept getting crushed,” according to the complaint.The relatives of the deceased will receive ₹ 2 lakh apiece, while the injured will receive ₹ 50,000.After observing the occurrence, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the formation of a committee to look into it. Along with offering their condolences to the relatives of the deceased, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both stated they were hoping for the injured to heal quickly. PM Modi stated that the Uttar Pradesh administration is receiving all assistance from the Center.
