UP Hathras Stampede: Over 50 Killed During Satsang Event, 'Suffocation' Primary Reason

At least 50 people were killed in a stampede at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on Tuesday, officials reported.

The tragic incident took place during Bhole Baba 'satsang' (prayer meeting) for Lord Shiva. According to reports, a religious preacher was addressing his followers at a specially laid tent in Sikandara Rau town of Hathras when the incident took place.

The stampede took place when attendees started leaving the cramped hall through a narrow gate, leading to a chaotic rush where people fell over each other. Women and children bore the brunt of the tragedy, resulting in over 150 injuries and multiple fatalities.

"It was a closed enclosure of tent and prima facie it seems that suffocation led to discomfort and those gathered ran here and there leading to stampede", IG Aligarh Range, Shalabh Mathur.

After the 'satsang' ended, everyone came out. Outside, the road was built on a height with a drain below. One after the other, people started falling into it. Some people got crushed," an eyewitness, Shakuntala told PTI.

Visuals from the Community Health Centre shows several bodies being brought in, surrounded by grieving relatives.

The bodies were transported to Etah Medical College for post-mortem examinations and further procedures.

Hathras DM Ashish Kumar said, "... District administration is investigating the matter. The injured are being taken to the hospital and people are still being recovered... A figure of nearly 50-60 deaths has been reported to me by the doctors... Permission for the event to be held was given by the SDM and it was a private event... A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter... The primary focus of the administration is to provide all possible help to the injured and kin of the deceased..."

"We have received 27 bodies, of which 25 are female and two are male. Some injured have also been taken to hospitals. We have heard that there was a stampede during a ''satsang' but don't have too many more details," said Chief Medical Officer, Etah, Dr Umesh Kumar Tripathi.

SSP Hathras Rajesh Kumar Singh said more than 15,000 devotees had assembled for the congregation. The small hall and narrow exit were insufficient to accommodate the large crowd.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of the victims in Hathras district.

"UP CM Yogi Adityanath has expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of those who died in the accident in Hathras district. He also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. He directed district administration officials to immediately take the injured to the hospital for proper treatment and to expedite relief work at the site. Additionally, he instructed an investigation into the causes of the incident, to be led by ADG Agra and Commissioner Aligarh," the Office of UP CM Yogi Adityanath posted on X.

"There are reports of many people dying in the stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. I express my condolences to those who lost their lives in this accident. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The administration is engaged in relief and rescue work under the supervision of the state government. Senior officials of the central government are in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. I assure everyone through this House that the victims will be helped in every way," PM Modi said.

A team consisting of the additional director general of police Agra and Aligarh Commissioner has been constituted to probe the cause of the incident.