Tragedy struck in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district on Tuesday as a stampede at a religious event organized by preacher Bhole Baba claimed the lives of at least 107 people, predominantly women. The incident occurred in Rati Bhanpur village following a satsang, where devotees began leaving the venue, resulting in the chaotic stampede, according to eyewitnesses and officials.
Ashish Kumar, the SHO of Sikandra Rao police station, attributed the stampede to overcrowding. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to the affected families and ensuring that an FIR would be filed against the event organizers.
Inspector General Shalabh Mathur of Aligarh Range explained that the satsang, held inside a closed tent with temporary permission, led to discomfort among attendees due to suffocation, prompting the fatal rush to exit.
Eyewitness Jyoti, a teenager hospitalized in Etah, recounted the frantic scene: “There was a huge crowd and when the satsang ended, everyone rushed to leave. The enclosure had no clear exit, causing people to fall on each other, leading to the stampede. Motorcycles parked outside blocked our way out.”
In response to the tragedy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the BJP-led state government for its handling of the event’s safety measures, urging support for the victims’ families and quality medical treatment for the injured.
The incident at Hathras has sparked widespread grief and calls for accountability as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding one of the deadliest stampedes in recent memory.