Uttar Pradesh: 116 including children, killed in stampede at religious event
- In Reports
- 07:44 PM, Jul 02, 2024
- Myind Staff
In a horrifying incident, at least 116 people, including women and three children, were killed after a stampede broke out at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on July 2nd, officials reported. The stampede occurred during a 'satsang' (prayer meeting) attended by hundreds.
Visuals from the Community Health Centre depicted the tragic scene, with several bodies being transported in buses and tempos, accompanied by grieving relatives. This tragic event underscores the urgent need for better crowd management and safety measures at large gatherings.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has acknowledged the tragic incident and directed the formation of a committee to investigate the causes and circumstances surrounding the stampede. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu also expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery for the injured. PM Modi assured that the Centre is providing all possible assistance to the Uttar Pradesh government to address the aftermath of the disaster and support those affected by the tragedy.
Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar stated that, based on information from the community health centre, around 100 people were killed in the stampede. Officials in the neighbouring Etah district confirmed an additional 27 deaths. "The stampede occurred in Phulrai village within the Sikandra Rao police station limits in Hathras. The injured are being transported to hospitals. Doctors at the community health centre have reported 50-60 fatalities. This was a private event with permission granted by the sub-divisional magistrate. While security arrangements were made by the administration, the other arrangements were the responsibility of the organisers," Mr. Kumar explained.
Chief Medical Officer of Etah, Dr. Umesh Kumar Tripathi, reported, "We have received 27 bodies, of which 25 are female and two are male. Some injured have also been taken to hospitals. We have heard that there was a stampede during a 'satsang.'"
Senior Superintendent of Police in Etah, Rajesh Kumar, confirmed that three children were among those killed in the stampede. "So far, 27 bodies have been sent to the hospital, of which 23 are women and three are children," he stated.
A woman who attended the 'satsang' mentioned that it was organized in honour of a local guru, Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari, and the stampede occurred as the crowd began to disperse.
A compensation of ₹2 lakh each has been announced for the families of the deceased, and ₹50,000 for the injured. Officials also indicated that a case will be registered against the organisers of the event.
Image Source: NDTV
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