Hathras Stampede Incident, Bhole Baba Satsang Live: At least 116 people were killed and several injured in a stampede during a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district today. The state government said the number of devotees attending the ‘satsang’ were more than that permitted by the administration. “The number of attendees exceeded the administration’s permitted limit at the venue, leading to a stampede during Bhole Baba’s satsang,”the government in a statement.
What happened? The incident took place in Phulrai village of Sikanda Rau tehsil on Tuesday, police officials confirmed. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, who reached the spot on the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, said that the people who had gathered had tried to touch the feet of the preacher Bhole Baba. “I am told that people rushed to touch his feet and tried to take soil (as he walked on the path)- as a Pratha (custom) – and a stampede took place and people fell in a nearby drain,” he said.
What action has been taken? Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the family of the deceased. The Chief Minister also formed a team, including the Additional Director General of Police in and the Aligarh Police Commissioner, to enquire into the causes of the tragedy, which has been directed to submit its report within 24 hours. Further, UP Chief Secretary Singh said that an FIR would be filed against Baba Bhole, who was conducting the satsang, and that strict action would be taken against those responsible. In view of the accident, the Hathras District Adminisration has also issued helpline numbers – 05722227041 and 05722227042- for the general public.
