At least 121 people, including 106 women and seven children, were killed after a stampede broke out at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday, officials have said. The stampede occurred during a ‘satsang’ (prayer meeting) which was attended by thousands. Visuals from the Community Health Centre showed several bodies being brought there in buses and tempos in the presence of crying relatives.
Hathras Stampede Death Count Rises
Why In News
- At least 121 people, including 106 women and seven children, were killed after a stampede broke out at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday, officials have said.
- The stampede occurred during a ‘satsang’ (prayer meeting) which was attended by thousands. Visuals from the Community Health Centre showed several bodies being brought there in buses and tempos in the presence of crying relatives.
What Happened
- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken note of the incident and, on his directions, a committee has been set up to investigate the incident.
- PM Modi said the Centre is extending all possible help to the Uttar Pradesh government. “The stampede broke out in Phulrai village within the Sikandra Rao police station limits in Hathras. This was a private event and permission had been given by the sub-divisional magistrate.
- Security arrangements were made by the administration but the other arrangements were supposed to be made by the organisers,” Mr Kumar said. A woman who attended the ‘satsang’ said it was organised in honour of a local guru, Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari, and the stampede broke out as the crowd began to leave. Sources said devotees were stopped from leaving until the self-styled guru’s car left, causing a big crowd build-up in a small area.
Steps Taken
- Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday registered an FIR against the organisers of the religious congregation in Hathras. ‘Mukhya sevadar’ Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named in the first information report (FIR) filed at the Sikandara Rao police station late Tuesday.
- The FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence).
- A compensation of ₹ 2 lakh each has been announced for the families of the dead and ₹ 50,000 for the injured. Officials said a case will be registered against the organisers.
- In a post on X, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said instructions have been given to officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing and to provide proper treatment to the injured. He said two state ministers, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh, have left for the village and the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police have also been sent there.
- Expressing his condolences to the families of those who have died, the chief minister said a committee has been set up to investigate the incident. The panel will be headed by the Additional Director General of Police, Agra, and the Aligarh Commissioner.
- In a post on X President Droupadi Murmu said the incident was heart-rending.
Who Is Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari?
- Suraj Pal Singh, known to his followers as Bhole Baba, was born in Bahadur Nagari village in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district to a farmer. He joined UP police and was a head constable working with the Intelligence Unit for over 18 years. However, his followers say he has also claimed that he worked for the Intelligence Bureau.
- In 1999, he took voluntary retirement from the service, changed his name to Narayan Saakar Hari and began holding satsangs. He told his devotees he felt an inclination towards spirituality and world peace and he resigned to begin his spiritual journey.
- Unlike most self-styled godmen, Narayan Hari is seen wearing a white suit and tie or a simple kurta pyjama accompanied by his wife Prem Bati. He also claims he does not keep any money offered to him by followers at his satsangs and distributes it among his followers.
