Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the tragic Hathras stampede incident in Uttar Pradesh, which claimed the lives of 121 people.
“Please accept my heartfelt condolences over the tragic accident in Uttar Pradesh. Please convey words of sympathy and support to the families of the deceased and wishes for the swift recovery of all injured,” the message stated.
The stampede occurred on Tuesday at a ‘Satsang’ religious event organized by Bhole Baba in Rati Bhanpur village, Sikandra Rau area of Hathras district. According to police, factors such as overcrowding, inadequate exits, adverse weather conditions, and other issues likely contributed to the high casualty count.
Injured victims, currently hospitalized, recounted that the stampede occurred after the event concluded when attendees rushed towards Bhole Baba as he descended from the stage. Many slipped on muddy ground while trying to exit, resulting in fatal crushes, as reported by authorities.
On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh police filed an FIR against the event organizers, alleging evidence concealment and violation of conditions, as 2.5 lakh people gathered despite permission for only 80,000. However, Bhole Baba was not named in the FIR.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial probe into the incident, stating, “We have formed an SIT, led by ADG Agra, which has submitted a preliminary report. They have been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation as several aspects need examination.”