LUCKNOW: At least 116 people were crushed to death at an overcrowded Hindu religious gathering in northern India on Tuesday, government officials said, marking the deadliest such incident in over a decade.
The incident occurred near Hathras, a city in Uttar Pradesh state, where a large crowd had gathered for a sermon by a popular preacher. As attendees were leaving the venue, a sudden and fierce dust storm erupted, causing widespread panic among the devotees.
Chaitra V., divisional commissioner of Aligarh city, explained, “The attendees were exiting the venue when a dust storm blinded their vision, leading to a ruckus and the subsequent tragic incident.” She said that efforts are now focused on providing relief and medical aid to the victims.
According to senior police officer Shalabh Mathur, it appears that “more people had come than permission was asked for,” contributing to the chaotic situation.
Rescue operations swiftly mobilized as lines of ambulances rushed the injured to hospitals. Reports from the scene described scenes of devastation, with many attendees crushed or trampled, some falling into a roadside drain amidst the chaos.
State chief medical officer Umesh Kumar Tripathi confirmed that most of the deceased were women. The injured, numbering at least 18, are currently receiving medical treatment.
Wailing relatives gathered outside mortuaries in towns like Etah, where many of the deceased were taken, seeking information about their loved ones. Shakuntala, a witness to the tragedy, recounted, “When the sermon finished, everyone started running out. People fell in a drain by the road. They started falling one on top of the other and got crushed to death.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of $2,400 to the next of kin of those who died and $600 to the injured. On social media platform X, he expressed condolences, stating, “My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones… I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured.”
President Droupadi Murmu also extended her sympathies, describing the deaths as “heart-rending.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, himself a Hindu monk, expressed condolences to the relatives of the deceased and ordered an investigation into the tragic incident.
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.
