Hathras tragedy highlights | SIT to probe stampede incident, says UP CM

116 killed in stampede at 'satsang' in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras

At least 116 people, including women and children, were killed and scores others injured in a stampede at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district, about 400 kilometres from here, on Tuesday.

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Stampede occurred at congregation of cop-turned-preacher Bhole Baba

The deadly stampede in Hathras on Tuesday that claimed over 100 lives occurred at a congregation of Baba Narayan Hari alias Saakar Vishwa Hari 'Bhole Baba', a former policeman who turned into a religious preacher and gained a following, especially in western Uttar Pradesh.

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Bodies lie outside hospital, loud wails pierce the air in Hathras

The heartbreaking scenes unfolded outside the district's Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre, where victims, dead or unconscious, of the stampede that occurred at a 'satsang' in Phulrai village, were brought in ambulances, trucks and cars.

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Most victims of Hathras stampede identified

Most of the 116 people who died in a stampede during a 'satsang' organised in Sikandra Rao area of the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday have been identified, the Uttar Pradesh government said.

Devotees had come to the 'satsang' from various districts of Uttar Pradesh as well as neighbouring states.

Efforts are being made to identify the remaining bodies, officials said. (PTI)

Forensic teams with sniffer dogs begin collecting evidence for investigation

Several envoys in India mourn loss of lives in Hathras stampede

Envoys of several countries, including Germany, France and China, mourned the loss of lives in a stampede in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on Tuesday and extended condolences to the victims' families.

German envoy Philipp Ackermann in a post on X in the evening offered condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in the stampede and said he was deeply saddened about the tragic incident.

Later on Tuesday night, Chinese envoy Xu Feihong also took to X to mourn the loss of lives in the incident.

French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou also posted a message on X, which was reposted by the French Embassy in New Delhi.

Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon also echoed the sentiments expressed by the other envoys. (PTI)

An elderly woman in search of her granddaughter recounts the horror, says 'people responsible'

FIR reveals 2.5 lakh people were at the event; police had permitted only 80,000

Around 250,000 people had gathered at the Hindu religious congregation in northern India where 116 people died in a stampede, more than triple the capacity permitted by authorities, according to a police document reviewed by Reuters.

The stampede happened at a religious function in a village in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state, about 200 km (125 miles) southeast of the New Delhi, where police had given permission for 80,000 people to gather, according to the document.

Around 250,000 people attended, said the document, the police first information report of the tragedy.

The stampede occurred when a crowd of devotees started pushing towards the stage after the event to touch the preacher, who was coming down from a stage, Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has said. (Reuters)

'Bhole Baba should be main accused': Kin of victims call for preacher to be named in FIR

Death toll in Hathras stampede rises to 121

The death toll in the Hathras tragedy on Wedenesday rose to 121, news agency ANI reported, citing the Office of the Relief Commissioner. The number of injured now stands at 28.

FIR lodged against organisers of Hathras congregation

The Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday lodged an FIR against the organisers of the congregation in Hathras, where the tragedy unfolded.

The cops named 'mukhya sevadar' Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers of the religious congregation in the FIR.

The FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence).

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Visuals from the site of the stampede as forensic probe continues

CM Yogi Adityanath likely to visit site of stampede today

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit Hathras on Wednesday where a stampede at a religious congregation killed 116 people, a senior government official said.

A team consisting of ADG Agra and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner has been constituted to inquire into the cause of the incident. The report is to be submitted within 24 hours, the government said in a statement on Tuesday, following the tragic incident.

Speaking to reporters at his residence on Tuesday, Adityanath said, "Our government will get to the bottom of this incident and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible. The state government is investigating this entire incident. We will see whether it is an accident or a conspiracy."

He also slammed the political parties doing politics over the tragic incident and said, "Doing politics on such an incident is extremely unfortunate and condemnable. This is the time to heal the wounds of the victims, to sympathise with the victims. The government is sensitive in this matter and no culprit will be spared." (PTI)

Drones deployed for surveillance at stampede site

Major stampedes in India over the years

January 2005: More than 265 Hindu devotees were killed and hundreds more injured after a stampede at the Mandhardevi temple in Wai town in the western state of Maharashtra. The stampede was caused by slippery steps leading up to the temple, media reported at the time.

August 2008: At the mountaintop Naina Devi temple in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, about 145 Hindu pilgrims died after rumours of a landslide triggered a stampede.

September 2008: A total of 250 people were trampled to death at the Chamundagar temple in the northern desert state of Rajasthan as pilgrims gathered to celebrate Navratri, a nine-day festival that celebrates the Goddess Durga.

March 2010: At least 63 people, more than half of them children, were killed in a stampede triggered by a massive rush for free food and clothes at a Hindu temple in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, media reported.

February 2013: At least 36 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a stampede on the busiest day of the Kumbh Mela, a gathering where more than 100 million pilgrims gather over a period of two months, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Of the dead, 27 were women, including an eight-year-old girl.

November 2013: Around 115 people were killed and more than a hundred injured after a stampede at the Ratangarh temple in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh after more than 150,000 people gathered to celebrate Navratri.

January 2022: At least 12 people died and more were injured in a stampede at the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir, after a huge crowd of devotees tried to go into the shrine though its narrow entrance. (Reuters)

Visuals of the arrangements made for Bhole Baba at the satang

Who is Bhole Baba?

Reports suggest that the self-styled preacher, who has been absconding since Tuesday, is a former Uttar Pradesh policeman who worked with the Local Intelligence Unit for more than 15 years.

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Latest visuals from Hathras as investigation continues

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'Not a small incident': UP minister vows action against culprits

What caused the stampede? Here's what we know

The congregation saw a large number of devotees present. A stampede occurred at the end of the event when hundreds of devotees tried to leave the venue together. As per a document reviewed by Reuters, around 2,50,000 people had gathered for the event while the police only gave permission for 80,000.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said that the stampede took place when devotees began pushing towards the stage after the event to touch the feet of Bhole Baba - the preacher who was coming down from the stage, the agency reported.

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There should be a law to control these 'babas', says Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut

"A couple of years ago, a 'satsang' was organised in Navi Mumbai and a stampede took place in which over 50 people died. No one has control over such 'satsang', these 'baba' and 'maharaj' call people and the administration is helpless," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut told news agency PTI.

"There should be a law... who will take responsibility of such kind of 'satsang' events. Poor people attend these events," he added.

FIR says organisers fudged attendee numbers, hid evidence

The FIR lodged against the satsang organisers on Wednesday accused them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions—2.5 lakh people had gathered for the event, for which only 80,000 had been permitted by the cops.

However, the congregation or 'satsang' conductor Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari has not been named in the FIR though his name is in the complaint.

The FIR alleged that the organisers hid the actual number of devotees coming to the 'satsang' while seeking permission, did not cooperate in traffic management and hid evidence after the stampede, which broke out after people gathered there stopped to collect mud from the way the baba's vehicle was passing.

The FIR apparently gave a clean chit to the police and administration, saying they did whatever possible from the available resources.

'Mukhya sevadar' Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named in the first information report (FIR) filed at the Sikandara Rao police station late Tuesday, a senior officer told PTI.

The FIR has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), the officer said. (PTI)

Latest visuals from Hathras as investigation continues

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Congress MP Pramod Tiwari calls for discussion of Hathras stampede in Parliament

"I want to request the Home Minister to discuss this incident in both Houses [of Parliament]. I would also request a judicial investigation in the matter. To avoid such incidents in the future, suggestions should be taken into account," Tiwari told news agency PTI.

Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia a 'joke', authorities irresponsible: SP leader slams PMO, UP govt

"It is also irresponsible behaviour of the authorities. Everyone knows that all the 'Bhole Baba' (Suraj Pal Singh) meetings attract such a huge crowd, hence, the authorities should have made proper arrangements. Now, they are trying to blame the organisers and 'Bhole Baba' but what can they do? Also, the ex-gratia announced by the government of Rs 2 lakh is a joke. Rs 2 lakh is nothing in today's time," Samajwadi Party spokesperson Udayveer Singh told news agency PTI.

Need to investigate report that people fell into a pit and suffocated, says UP minister

"The information that we have as of now through eyewitnesses - when the programme ended, the organisers did some mismanagement, stopped people, the exit path was narrow, it is also being said that needs to be verified that there was a pit, people fell over one another and died due to suffocation," Uttar Pradesh Minister and BJP MLA Asim Arun told news agency ANI.

"The CM has ordered an investigation of the matter under the presidentship of ADG, Agra Zone...The CM is coming to Hathras. He will meet the injured in the hospital and will also meet families of some of those who lost their lives," he added.

Plea in Supreme Court seeks court-monitored probe into stampede

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking a direction to appoint a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired SC judge to enquire into the Hathras stampede incident, reported news agency ANI.

The petition further sought a direction to the committee to suggest and frame guidelines and safety measures to avoid such incidents in public gatherings in future.

The plea, filed by a lawyer, also sought a direction to the state of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report before the apex court and urged for the initiation of legal action against the persons, authorities and officials responsible for the incident for their negligent conduct.

More visuals from Hathras

'Yogi should resign': JMM MP says UP govt was negligent

"When people more than the venue's capacity had gathered there, then the administration should have taken cognizance ... The victims should definitely get the compensation ... The CM of Uttar Pradesh should resign," said Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Mahua Maji.

Asphyxia due to compression caused most deaths, revals autopsies of victims brought to Etah district hospital

Asphyxia due to compression was the leading cause of death among the victims of the Hathras stampede who were brought to the district hospital in neighbouring Etah on Tuesday, a senior doctor said.

The hospital performed four times the usual number of autopsies in a day in the aftermath of the stampede, he said.

As many as 27 bodies were brought to the mortuary of the district hospital here after the stampede at Hathras' Phulrai village on Tuesday. The overall toll stood at 121 and bodies were taken to various hospitals in nearby areas including Etah and Aligarh.

"Of the 27 bodies brought here, the post-mortem of 19 was concluded while the mortuary staff prepared for the 20th autopsy around midnight," Etah's Additional Chief Medical Officer Dr Ram Mohan Tiwari said.

Six bodies remained to be identified, he said. (PTI)

BJP govt responsible, says Akhilesh on Hathras stampede

"The Uttar Pradesh government and administration are fully responsible for this incident. The loss of lives in this incident is due to the negligence of the government. Some injured persons died due to lack of proper treatment. The BJP govt is responsible for this incident...This is not the first incident where negligence was seen," said Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath lands in Hathras, takes stock of situation

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UP CM Yogi Adityanath meets those injured in stampede

'He is creator of the universe': Bhole Baba followers defend their guru

"He is not 'Baba', he is the creator of this universe 'Shri Narayan Hari'. He is the one behind everything that happens. For yesterday's incident, there is no fault of 'Narayan Hari'," said a follower of Bhole Baba.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath leaves Hathras hospital after meeting injured victims

A father recounts the horror of losing his three-year-old son in the tragedy

"We never thought that such an incident would take place," father of a three-year-old boy, who died in the stampede at a religious congregation here, said on Wednesday.

Satyendra Yadav (29) works as a driver in Delhi and had reached here with his family members on Tuesday morning to attend a 'satsang'.

"As I reached my vehicle [a three-wheeler loader] along with my mother, who had come to the event from the village, I got a call from my wife...she said, 'Pilua thaane aa jaao, Chhota khatam ho gayaa hai' (Come to the Pilua police station, Chhota is no more)," Yadav said.

The three-year-old son of Yadav, Rovin, was affectionately called as Chhota by his family. He was among the 121 people, who died in the stampede here on Tuesday. (PTI)

'Only the poor who meet this fate', says kin of victim; search continues for missing five-year-old

"It's only the poor who meet this fate, not the rich," says Rajkumari Devi as she sits in an ambulance besides the body of her sister-in-law Ruby who died in the Hathras stampede.

Rajkumari, who came here along with her husband from Unnao district, is yet to come to terms with the loss and also worried about Ruby's five-year-old son, who is missing.

"We are yet to find him. More of our family members are on their way to Hathras," she said, sitting outside the mortuary of the government hospital here, around 400 km away from home.

Asked if she had any demands from the government, Rajkumari said: "What do we say now. There's nothing [to ask for]. It's only the poor who meets this fate, not the rich." (PTI)

Latest visuals from Hathras

Devotees rushing to touch Bhole Baba's feet likely caused stampede, reveals SDM report

"Narayan Hari Sarkar reached the venue at 12.30 and the event went on for an hour. When the baba left the venue, people started rushing towards him to seek his blessings. A large number of people were already standing on the divider at the GT road and started running towards Baba. To prevent the crowd from reaching Baba, his private security and 'Sevadar' pushed some people and they fell down. The crowd went out of control and panicked. To get relief from this, people rushed towards the open field nearby where multiple people slipped on a slope and the people started running over them," the SDM report said.

After meeting injured victims, Yogi Adityanath reaches site of stampede for inspection

People's lives have no value in India, says AAP's Sanjay Singh; blasts 'Baba bazar' in country

"The people's lives have no value in this country... A person building his 'Baba Bazar' and no control whatsoever over him. This isn't about Hathras only, see in the entire country, what happens in Haryana - a Baba guilty of murder and rape, comes out when he wants and the entire govt bows before him. If you will let the market of such Babas flourish in the country, how you control such incidents?," asked AAP leader Sanjay Singh, when quizzed about his views on the Hathras stampede.

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Details of the petition calling for an SC-monitored probe into the Hathras stampede

A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking the appointment of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired apex court judge to probe the Hathras stampede incident which claimed 121 lives.

The plea, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, has also sought a direction to the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report on the July 2 incident and to initiate legal action against the authorities, officials and others for their negligent conduct.

The petition has sought a direction to the states to submit the status of medical facilities available from the block/Tehsil to the district level to deal with incidents of stampede.

It has also sought the apex court's direction to the states to issue guidelines to prevent stampede or other incidents for the safety of the public in organising any religious or other events where a large number of people gather.

The plea filed in the apex court has sought a direction for the appointment of an expert committee to enquire into the stampede incident and also to direct the panel to suggest and frame guidelines, and safety measures to avoid such incidents.

"There are several questions which are brewing up from this horrific incident of stampede thereby questioning the duty and lapse of state government and municipal corporations," it claimed, adding that the authorities had failed in controlling the crowd which gathered for the event.

It referred to some past incidents of stampede in the country in religious festivals, ceremonies and events.

The plea has arrayed the Centre, several other states and Union Territories as party respondents. (PTI)

UP CM Yogi Adityanath chairs meeting with officials over Hathras stampede

Is Bhole Baba hiding? Cops gather outside ashram, remain mum on godman's whereabouts

A large number of police personnel has been deployed outside the ashram of a religious preacher a day after a stampede at his 'satsang' in Hathras district kileld 121 people and injured 31, officials said Wednesday.

However, the officials remained tight-lipped when asked if Baba Narayan Hari, also known as Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, was inside the ashram. But, some police sources said he indeed was inside.

Police personnel pooled from many police stations have been deployed outside the ashram at Bicchwan here and no one, including the media, is allowed in.

According to the latest list released by the Relief Commissioner's Office in Lucknow, 121 persons have died and 31 are injured in the incident in Hathras. (PTI)

Latest visuals from Hathras

Administration not allowed at such congregations, will address lapses, assures UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Adityanath's comments came while he was briefing the media on the Hathras tragedy.

Judicial enquiry ordered under retd HC judge; SIT to probe stampede, says UP CM

Further action is also being taken in the direction of fixing the accountability of those responsible for this entire incident: Yogi

Families of each deceased are being given ex-gratia of Rs 4 Lakhs and Rs 1 Lakh will be given to those who sustained minor injuries, assures UP CM on

Some people have the tendency to politicise such sad and painful incidents. These people have the nature of 'chori bhi aur seenazori bhi: Yogi Adityanath

Visuals of injured undergoing treatment at the Aligarh government medical college

UP Congress chief Ajay Rai arrives at Hathras district hospital to meet the injured

UP CM Yogi Adityanath leaves from Hathras

Visuals from the ashram of Baba Narayan Hari alias Saakar Vishwa Hari 'Bhole Baba', who remains absconding since the stampede

A woman from Aligarh who attended the 'satsang' and returned safely shares her experience

This is a very sad incident and politics should not be done on this: Kailash Vijayvargiya

UP Congress chief Ajay Rai meets injured at Hathras district hospital

"Total six injured were admitted to our hospital last night. They are all now out of danger," says Aligarh Chief Medical Superintendent Mahendra Kumar Mathur

UP Congress president Ajay Rai on BJP's claim of him having photos with Suraj Pal Singh aka Bhole Baba

A large number of people came there but there was no proper arrangement for them...This shows the Law and Order of the state...Action should be taken in this matter: Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala

I express my condolences for the deceased, says Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Arun Sao on Hathras stampede incident

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida issues a message of condolence over Hathras stampede incident

It is the failure of Yogi government: TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Hathras stampede

National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma arrives at the site of stampede

"They (organisers of the event) sought permission for 80,000 people. However, they never allowed anyone to click photos or make videos of their events. That's why even the administration doesn't have the photos or videos. No one has the exact details about the number of people who were present at the event," says National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma.

Rs 2 Lakh compensation has been announced: NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma on Hathras stampede incident

NCW chief Rekha Sharma says, "I have come here for fact-finding and I am speaking with the administration. If I feel that the administration's report is lacking in something, we (NCW) would do our own fact-finding. Rs 2 Lakh compensation has been announced. It is sad that women are not stepping forward to speak...You can imagine the level of illiteracy that even now the families are not stepping forward..."

I have said that whoever that Guru was, an FIR should be registered against him: National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma

"I want to express my condolences. May God give the strength to the families of those who have suffered in this," says BJP leader Vasundhara Raje

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel forms a three-member commission to probe the Hathras stampede incident.

Retired High Court Judge Brijesh Kumar Srivastava to lead the three-member judicial panel formed by the government to investigate the Hathras stampede incident