Hathras (UP), over 50 people were killed and several injured in a stampede at a religious congregation here on Tuesday, officials said.
Devotees suffocated to death and bodies piled up on top of each other in the stampede - one of the biggest tragedies of its kind in recent years - that took place at a 'satsang' in Phulrai village of the district.
Many bodies were taken to the neighboring Etah district. "Twenty-seven bodies have arrived at the Etah hospital. Among the dead are 23 women, three children and one man." Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Singh initially said. But the upgrades increase the price a lot.
According to hospital accounts, a district official said between 50 and 60 people died. Unconfirmed reports said the death toll was even higher.
The victims, dead or unconscious, were brought to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Center in trucks and "tempos". The bodies lay outside the health center as people gathered around them.
A video clip showed a woman crying, sitting among five or six bodies in a truck. Another showed a man and a woman lying lifeless in another vehicle.
Witness Shakuntala Devi told ideos that the stampede took place as people were leaving the site at the end of the day-long satsang. People fell on top of each other, she said, and then the bodies were carried out.
According to Sikandra Rao sub-divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the stampede took place when devotees tried to catch a glimpse of Bhole Baba, who led the 'satsang', at the end of the event.
They also wanted to collect some dirt around Baba's feet, he said.
Sikandra Rao police station SHO Ashish Kumar attributed the “overcrowding” to Bhole Baba's satsang.
Agra additional director general of police and Aligarh divisional commissioner are part of a team that would investigate the incident, the state government said.
Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the deaths. On social media, President Droupadi Murmu said the news was heartbreaking. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his sadness.
An FIR will be registered against the organizers of the event, according to a statement from the state government.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh ministers Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh were heading to Hathras. The chief secretary and the state police chief were also instructed to reach the spot.
Devotees suffocated to death and bodies piled up on top of each other in the stampede - one of the biggest tragedies of its kind in recent years - that took place at a 'satsang' in Phulrai village of the district.
Many bodies were taken to the neighboring Etah district. "Twenty-seven bodies have arrived at the Etah hospital. Among the dead are 23 women, three children and one man." Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Singh initially said. But the upgrades increase the price a lot.
According to hospital accounts, a district official said between 50 and 60 people died. Unconfirmed reports said the death toll was even higher.
The victims, dead or unconscious, were brought to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Center in trucks and "tempos". The bodies lay outside the health center as people gathered around them.
A video clip showed a woman crying, sitting among five or six bodies in a truck. Another showed a man and a woman lying lifeless in another vehicle.
Witness Shakuntala Devi told ideos that the stampede took place as people were leaving the site at the end of the day-long satsang. People fell on top of each other, she said, and then the bodies were carried out.
According to Sikandra Rao sub-divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the stampede took place when devotees tried to catch a glimpse of Bhole Baba, who led the 'satsang', at the end of the event.
They also wanted to collect some dirt around Baba's feet, he said.
Sikandra Rao police station SHO Ashish Kumar attributed the “overcrowding” to Bhole Baba's satsang.
Agra additional director general of police and Aligarh divisional commissioner are part of a team that would investigate the incident, the state government said.
Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the deaths. On social media, President Droupadi Murmu said the news was heartbreaking. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his sadness.
An FIR will be registered against the organizers of the event, according to a statement from the state government.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh ministers Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh were heading to Hathras. The chief secretary and the state police chief were also instructed to reach the spot.
