Over 100 people, including multiple women and three children, are feared dead in a stampede that broke out during a religious congregation at Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday. The incident took place during a ‘satsang’ (prayer meeting), in honour of a local guru, Bhole Baba aka Vishwa Hari, and was attended by around 80,000 people.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and the injured would be given Rs 50,000 each.
According to an eyewitness, people started walking outside after the ‘satsang’ ended and fell into a drain located at the edge of the road built at a height, which caused panic and chaos.
Who Is Bhole Baba aka Vishwa Hari?
A resident of Uttar Pradesh, Bhole Baba aka Vishwa Hari is a former employee of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). He left his job 26 years ago and started giving religious sermons.
Bhole Baba has millions of followers in Western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.
Hathras Stampede: What Do We Know So Far?
- A policeman, who was on the QRT (Quick Response Team), fainted due to heat and died while undergoing treatment. “Constable Ravi Kumar, posted at Awagarh police station, was on QRT (Quick Response Team) duty since June 17. He fainted due to heat, following which he was brought to the district hospital immediately. He passed away while undergoing treatment,” said Circle Officer Vikrant Dwivedi.
- Around 72 police personnel were on duty to attend a crowd of 80,000 people attending the ‘satsang’.
- Hathras DM, Ashish Kumar said the SDM gave permission for the event, which was organised by Dev Prakash Madhukar, Mahesh Chandra, Anar Singh, Sanju Yadav, Chandra Dev and Ram Prakash.
- An eyewitness of the incident told PTI, “After the ‘satsang’ ended, everyone came out. Outside, the road was built at a height with a drain below. One after the other, people started falling into it. Some people got crushed.”
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took note of the incident and ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the incident.
- President Droupadi Murmu took to microblogging site X and wished for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries in the incident. “The news of the death of many devotees including women and children in the accident in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” the President wrote.
- Prime Minister mentioned the Hathras incident during his response on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha and assured that the Centre is in constant contact with the state government to help the victims in every way.
- “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,” said PM Modi in Lok Sabha.
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