Families Await Autopsies for Loved Ones Lost in Hathras Stampede

Scores of bodies lay on ice blocks inside a government hospital in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, following a deadly stampede at a religious event. Relatives of the victims waited outside in the drizzle to take their loved ones home. Officials reported 116 deaths, including 108 women and seven children.

Meena Devi, who lost her mother Sudama Devi, 65, recounted, "It was drizzling in Sadiqpur where I live; otherwise, I had planned to go to the sangat with my mother." She sat inconsolable outside the TB department of Bagla Combined District Hospital, where many bodies were kept. "My brother and sister-in-law, their kids had accompanied my mother to the Sangat. In the crowd, my mother got left behind and was crushed over," she said.

Eyewitness Accounts and Immediate Response

Shakuntala Devi, an eyewitness, described how the stampede occurred as people were leaving the venue after the satsang. "Outside, there was a road built on a height over a drain. People fell atop each other," she said. Another eyewitness, Sonu Kumar, mentioned that around 10,000 people were present when Baba was leaving. Many rushed to touch his feet, causing chaos.

Earlier in the day, tragic scenes unfolded outside Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre. Victims were brought in ambulances, trucks, and cars. A woman cried among several bodies in a truck, pleading for help to retrieve her daughter's body. An agitated youth outside the hospital said, "There are almost 100-200 casualties and there was only one doctor at the hospital. There was no facility for oxygen."

Victims' Families Struggle

Vinod Kumar Suryavanshi from Barse village lost his 72-year-old maternal aunt while his mother survived. He waited for three hours at the hospital for his aunt's post-mortem. "I have been told it will go for post-mortem now but I am not sure how much more time it will take," he said.

Rajesh struggled to get an ambulance for his mother's body. Wearing a face mask, he made frantic inquiries with police officials inside the TB department. Meanwhile, RSS and Bajrang Dal volunteers distributed water packets and offered guidance on medical procedures to relatives of victims.

Official Statements and Investigation

Agras additional director general of police and Aligarh divisional commissioner are part of a team probing the incident. The state government has asked them to submit their report within 24 hours. District Magistrate Ashish Kumar stated that it was a private function with permission granted by the sub-divisional magistrate. The local administration provided security outside while organisers handled internal arrangements.

The Uttar Pradesh government announced that an FIR would be registered against the organisers of the programme. The number of ambulances was inadequate for the bodies seen at the hospital that day. Aniket, a Bajrang Dal volunteer, said while standing guard at the TB Department building gate.

Kailash described how people fell on top of each other due to slippery mud and were crushed by those coming from behind. Another person who left before the programme ended noted that arrangements were inadequate for such a large crowd.

The victims were part of thousands gathered near Phulrai village in Sikandrarau area for Bhole Baba's satsang. The stampede occurred around 3:30 pm when Baba was leaving the venue.

The aftermath saw bodies kept at various locations including district hospitals and trauma centres near Sikandrarau area and Etah district. Volunteers remained at hospitals since afternoon assisting relatives in shock.

The tragic incident highlights severe lapses in crowd management and emergency response during large gatherings. The investigation aims to uncover more details about what led to this unfortunate event.