Hathras Stampede: Was suffocation the cause? Insights from police and eyewitnesses
PTC News Desk: In the Hathras region of Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday, a stampede resulted in the deaths of at least 107 individuals, the most of them were women. The incident happened in the village of Rati Bhanpur, where a satsang (religious gathering) had been arranged by a preacher by the name of Bhole Baba.
Packed into trucks and other vehicles, the deceased and unconscious were transported to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre. According to a witness who spoke with news agency PTI, the stampede happened when followers began to leave the location following the "satsang."
Ashish Kumar, the SHO of the Sikandra Rao police station, stated that congestion was the cause of the stampede. The government of Uttar Pradesh announced that the event's organizers will be the subject of a formal complaint.
UP CM announces financial aid to deceased, injured families of Hathras stampede
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The tragic catastrophe that claimed lives in the Hathras district is deeply upsetting and heartbreaking. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, tweeted on X, "My condolences are with the bereaved family."
The satsang gathering was arranged, according to Inspector General (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur, by the religious leader Bhole Baba. According to the officer, a closed tent served as the meeting's venue. He claimed that the devotees' sense of suffocation caused the rush.
It was the religious preacher Bhole Baba's satsang gathering. On Tuesday afternoon, a temporary permit was given to assemble at the location where the Etah and Hathras districts meet. It was a closed tent enclosure, and it appears that people were uncomfortable due to suffocation, so they scattered, which caused the stampede," he stated.
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The youngster Jyoti, who was hospitalised to the district hospital in Etah, claimed that the stampede was caused by the devotees' hurried attempt to flee the premises.
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Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/S4ZBKMgbvg#HathrasAccident #stampede #UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/44XoyyqZfY — ANI Digital (@ani_digital) July 2, 2024
"There was a sizable gathering there. Everything transpired as the Satsang concluded and everyone hurried out of the enclosure. There was no way out, so everyone collapsed over one another, causing the stampede to happen. Motorcycles parked outside made it difficult for me to leave when I tried to," the woman remarked.
Both President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their condolences on the deaths. Akhilesh Yadav, the head of the Samajwadi Party, hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government, which is governed by the BJP.
"We were informed about the tragedy while we were in the Lok Sabha. Given how many people perished, what action did the government take? The safety and security of persons congregating in such huge numbers falls under the purview of the government. The families of those slain ought to receive aid from the government. We hope that the injured will receive quality medical care from the government," he stated.
- With inputs from agencies
