Hathras, India — A tragic stampede at a religious event in Hathars, Uttar Pradesh, claimed the lives of around 50 to 60 attendees on Tuesday, casting a shadow over a gathering organized by a local spiritual leader and highlighting the ongoing concerns around safety measures at mass gatherings in the region.
The chaos erupted at the close of a function held by Narayan Sakaar Hari, who is also known as Bhole Baba, a self-styled godman with a significant following, particularly among the Dalit community. Dressed distinctively in a white suit and tie, Hari preaches “manav dharam” or “human religion”.
Sources reveal that the incident was precipitated by a surge of people attempting to exit the venue amidst high humidity levels. The deputy commissioner of Hathras, Ashish Kumar, indicated the stampede occurred as attendees were leaving the site.
Additional reports from neighboring Etah district confirmed another grim toll, where police superintendent Rajesh Kumar Singh reported that 27 people were declared dead on arrival at local hospitals, including 23 women and one child. The count of deceased from Hathras district was not fully clear, raising fears that the number of casualties could increase as more reports come in.
Videos circulating on social media, capturing distressed locals and chaotic scenes at the hospital facilities, sparked outrage against what was perceived as inadequate police handling and poor planning by event organizers. Some locals openly criticized the delay in emergency response and alleged a lack of necessary medical supplies, including oxygen.
Responding to the crisis, Uttar Pradesh’s state government initiated an immediate investigation into the causes of the disaster. In addition, Chief Minister Adityanath dispatched a top-level team under the leadership of the Additional Director General (ADG) of Police for Agra and the Commissioner of Aligarh, aiming to assess the situation and oversee relief efforts.
The chief minister also expressed profound sorrow over the casualties and directed officers to expedite the rescue operations. State ministers were instructed to ensure all possible aid to the victims and their families, with prompt medical attention being a priority.
Visuals from the site showed bodies lined up outside medical facilities, as overwhelmed hospitals struggled to manage the sudden influx of casualties. Emergency teams worked tirelessly to provide aid to survivors and reconcile the injured with their families.
Even though the function was privately managed, district authorities had taken steps to maintain law and order, with internal event security purportedly under the control of the organizers. The full scale of the tragedy and the sequence of events leading to the stampede remain under investigation. Local authorities, alongside State officials, vowed to take stringent measures to avoid such incidents in the future and are closely monitoring the situation to provide timely updates and support.