There was a stampede during the satsang in Hathras, so far 116 people have died, women and children are also among the dead

So far 116 people have died and many are reported to be injured in a stampede during a satsang in Phulrai village of Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh yesterday. Most of the dead are women and most of the deaths occurred due to suffocation. This satsang is called Sarkar Narayan Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

More than 116 devotees died

A team of ADGP of Agra and Divisional Commissioner of Aligarh will investigate the incident and submit the report within 24 hours. According to a statement issued by the government, an FIR will be registered against the organizers of the satsang. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the heirs of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the Chief Minister and inquired about the incident and assured all possible help from the central government.

Etah SSP Rajesh Kumar Singh said 27 bodies were brought to a hospital in neighbouring Etah district. These included 23 women, three children and a man, while 89 bodies were lying in Hathras. Aligarh Range IG Shalabh Mathur said the death toll was 116. The victims, who were dead or unconscious, were brought to the Sikandrarao Trauma Centre in trucks and tempos. The bodies of the deceased were lying outside the hospital, with people gathering around them.

District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said that the satsang was a private event for which the sub-divisional magistrate had given the necessary approval. He said that the local administration had provided security outside the venue while the inside arrangements were made by the organizers themselves. Sikandar Rao's sub-divisional magistrate Ravinder Kumar said that the stampede occurred when the devotees rushed forward to get a glimpse of Bhole Baba. He said that the devotees were in a hurry to take the soil from under Baba's feet. Sikandar Rao police station SHO Ashish Kumar said that the stampede occurred due to the large crowd in the satsang.

President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders have described the deaths due to stampede during Hathras Satsang as tragic and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati have expressed grief over the accident and the deaths.