NEW DELHI: At least 97 people were crushed to death and hundreds of others were injured in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in the Hathras area of northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state, with fears the toll could rise, government medics said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred during celebrations honoring the Hindu deity Shiva, drawing crowds to the city located approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles) southeast of New Delhi.
Senior medical officer Ram Mohan Tiwari of Uttar Pradesh state said, “We have received 97 bodies so far… bodies are still coming.”
Umesh Kumar Tripathi, the chief medical officer, provided further details, stating, “Among the deceased are 25 women and two men. Many injured have also been admitted. The primary reason is a stampede during a religious event.”
The stampede occurred during a ‘satsang’ (prayer meeting) which was attended by hundreds. Visuals from the Community Health Centre showed several bodies being brought there in buses and tempos in the presence of crying relatives.
Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said that, according to numbers received from the community health centre, 50-60 people were killed. Officials in Etah district confirmed the deaths of an additional 27.
“The stampede broke out in Phulrai village within the Sikandra Rao police station limits in Hathras. The injured are being taken to hospitals. Doctors at the community health centre have told me 50-60 people have died. This was a private event and permission had been given by the sub-divisional magistrate. Security arrangements were made by the administration but the other arrangements were supposed to be made by the organisers,” Mr Kumar said.
A woman who attended the ‘satsang’ said it was organised in honour of a local guru, Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari, and the stampede broke out as the crowd began to leave.
Stampedes and accidents at religious gatherings are unfortunately not uncommon in India, particularly during major festivals and events. In 2016, a tragic incident at a temple in Kerala resulted in the deaths of 112 people due to a massive explosion caused by a banned fireworks display during the Hindu new year celebrations.
Similarly, in 2013, 115 devotees lost their lives in a stampede near a temple in Madhya Pradesh, triggered by rumors of a bridge collapse.
Earlier incidents include a 2008 stampede at a hilltop temple in Jodhpur, where 224 pilgrims lost their lives and over 400 others sustained injuries.
