Hathras Satsang Stampede: At Least 116 Die In Aftermath Of Religious Gathering

Authorities have reported at least 116 casualties so far. The injured have been rushed to the medical college in Etah, with further casualties feared. The identification of the deceased is currently underway.

The death toll from a stampede at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district on Tuesday has risen to 116, including several women and children, officials said. According to Aligarh Range IG Shalabh Mathur, 116 deaths have been confirmed thus far. Twenty-seven bodies are in an Etah mortuary, with the rest in Hathras. The bodies are being transported to various hospitals for post-mortem examinations.

The injured and deceased were transported to hospitals in Hathras and the nearby Etah district. A number of women and children were killed. Addressing the media shortly after the incident, senior police officer Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the stampede occurred at a religious event in a village in Hathras district.

Another police officer said the stampede was most likely caused by overcrowding and high humidity. The stampede occurred as the event came to an end, when some people attempted to leave the pandal despite the humid conditions, while others attempted to push them back, causing confusion and chaos.

Uttar Pradesh: A major incident has occurred in Ratibhanpur, Sikandra Rao, Hathras. A stampede in a satsang pavilion has resulted in the deaths of 27 people, including 19 women, and the death toll may rise. A large number of women, elderly people, and children have been injured,… https://t.co/UgKbWE7rYm pic.twitter.com/WmE2SRE57V — IANS (@ians_india) July 2, 2024

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs 2 lakh in compensation for the deceased's kin and Rs 50,000 each for those injured in the incident. The Chief Minister's office has requested a report on the stampede and the organisers of the discourse, and strict action is being planned against them.

Senior officials have arrived at the scene to oversee rescue operations. A police force from neighbouring districts has also been called in. Aparna Kulshretra, ADG Agra, has also reached Hathras.

VIDEO | Hathras Stampede: "In Etah Hospital, 27 bodies have been brought, out of which 23 are women, three are children and one is a man. As of now, no injured people have been brought. This is a very unfortunate incident. May their souls rest in peace," says Etah SSP Rajesh… pic.twitter.com/N3LRkybDhj

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 2, 2024