On 2 July 2024, a crowd crush occurred at the conclusion of a satsang organised by a self-styled godman[1] in the village of Mughal Garhi in Hathras district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The incident resulted in the deaths of 121 people, most of whom were women and children, and the hospitalisation of at least 150 others. The incident occurred when about 250,000 people showed up for the event, which had permission for at most 80,000.
  2024 Hathras crowd crush (Uttar Pradesh)  2024 Hathras crowd crush (India) | |
| Date | 2 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 27°40′6″N 78°25′7″E / 27.66833°N 78.41861°E |
| Cause | Overcrowding |
| Deaths | 121 |
| Non-fatal injuries | At least 150 |
Incident
editOn 2 July 2024, a satsang (a religious event) was organised in the village of Mughal Garhi in Hathras district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh by the Sri Jagar Guru Baba organisation, founded by a local preacher, Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari or Bhole Baba.[2] A makeshift tent had been erected in a muddy field for the event.[3] The crowd crush occurred at the conclusion of the event, when people attempted to leave the premises.[4][5]
Victims
editThe incident resulted in the deaths of 123 people, most of whom were women and children, and the hospitalisation of at least 150 others.[6][7][8]
Aftermath
editThe National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was tasked with the rescue operations. A responding police officer also died of a heart attack.[9] Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹200,000 (US$2,400) for the families of the dead and ₹50,000 (US$600) for the injured.[10] He also instructed officials to investigate the cause of the incident.[11]
Causes
editAccording to the first information report (FIR) lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police, around 250,000 people showed up for the event, which had permission for at most 80,000.[12][13] The organisers had not ensured multiple exit routes, resulting in one entry and exit respectively for a crowd of 2.5 lakh. Officials claimed that the deaths occurred when a dust storm caused people to panic and the overcrowding combined with the heat resulted in increased casualties.[14]
Media agencies reported that the exit from the venue was narrow and the crush started when people pushed each other to get a glimpse of Pal and others tried to collect the soil or dirt around his feet.[15][16][17] Media reports also reported that attendees were held back for Pal and his group to exit first.[18][19] Some of the victims fell into a roadside drain during the commotion, while others were crushed as they were sitting or squatting on the ground.[20]
Investigation
editPal was believed to be in his ashram in Mainpuri district in the aftermath of the incident.[21] A lawyer for Pal said that he denied responsibility for the disaster and attributed it to "anti-social elements", while saying that a "criminal conspiracy" was being brought against him. He added that Pal would cooperate with the police investigation.[22] At least 11 people,[23] including six of Pal's aides were arrested in connection with the disaster,[24] along with the chief organiser of the event. A judicial inquiry composed of three members was also created to investigate the incident.[25]
On 9 July 2024, after the preliminary investigation of the inquiry was completed, six government and police officials were suspended for their alleged negligent handling of the event. Senior officials were not notified about the event and according to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, a Hathras senior district official had permitted the event to run without inspecting the venue. The panel also blamed the organisers for hiding details of the event in order to get permission to hold the event. In response to the preliminary findings, Pal's lawyer repeated the claim that the incident was a conspiracy.[26]
Reactions
editPresident Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the disaster.[27] The ambassadors of China, France and Germany also expressed condolences.[28]
On 17 July, Suraj Pal reiterated claims of a conspiracy, adding that he was "deeply saddened" over the disaster and that it was "inevitable" at the same time.[29]
References
edit- ^ Kumar, Anuj (6 July 2024). "Narayan Sakar Hari (Bhole Baba) | Policeman-turned-preacher". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ Banerjee, Biswajeet; Pathi, Krutika (3 July 2024). "How did a religious gathering in India turn into a deadly stampede?". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Shamim, Sarah. "What caused the deadly stampede in Hathras, India?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ Hrishikesh, Sharanya (2 July 2024). "Dozens killed in stampede at India religious event". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "107 people killed in stampede at religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras". Hindustan Times. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Two Days After Killer Stampede Left 123 Dead, No Arrests and Few Answers". NDTV. 4 July 2024. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Who is Bhole Baba, during whose 'satsang' 120 people died in a stampede?". The Statesman. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Bali, Meghna (2 July 2024). "More than 100 killed during stampede at religious gathering in India's Uttar Pradesh with death toll expected to rise". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "UP Hathras Stampede: Policeman dies of heart attack after seeing piles of bodies". India TV. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Chaturvedi, Hemendra (2 July 2024). "107 dead in stampede at religious preacher's congregation in UP's Hathras". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "UP Hathras Stampede Live Updates: At least 50 persons killed during 'satsang', CM Adityanath announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for families of deceased". The Indian Express. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Iyer, Aishwarya S. (2 July 2024). "At least 87 people killed in stampede at religious event in India, say local police". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah; Hassan, Aakash (3 July 2024). "India deadly crush blamed on huge overcrowding as death toll passes 120". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Yasir, Sameer (2 July 2024). "Stampede at Religious Gathering in Northern India Kills at Least 50". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Eye witnesses told painful story of the accident". NDTV. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "What happened in Hathras? All you need to know about Bhole Baba, stampede". Hindustan Times. 4 July 2024. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Devotees wanted to collect soil from around Bhole Baba's feet': The unfolding of UP's Hathras tragedy". Money Control. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Convoy of storyteller Bhole Baba was going out". Jagran (in Hindi). 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Accident happened due to stampede to touch the feet of Baba". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Mollan, Cherylann; Pasha, Dilnawaz (3 July 2024). "Hathras: What we know about crush that killed 121 in Uttar Pradesh". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Ethirajan, Anbarasan (3 July 2024). "Grief and anger after India crush kills 121". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Ethirajan, Anbarasan; Luckhurst, Toby (4 July 2024). "India preacher denies blame for crush deaths". BBC News. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "'No woman left in my family now': India's Hathras mourns stampede victims". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ Dayal, Sakshi (2 July 2024). "Six arrested in connection with stampede in north India, police say". Reuters. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Sebastian, Meryl (8 July 2024). "India event organiser arrested after fatal crush". BBC. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Sharma, Saurabh; Patel, Shivam (9 July 2024). "India suspends six police, government officials for stampede that killed 121". Reuters. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Death toll from India stampede rises to at least 97, says official". Al Jazeera. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Hathras stampede: Several envoys in India mourn loss of lives". Hindustan Times. Press Trust of India. 3 July 2024. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Mollan, Cherylann (19 July 2024). "'No-one can change fate': India preacher on deadly crush". BBC. Retrieved 19 July 2024.