A devastating stampede at a religious gathering in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh has resulted in the tragic death of at least 87 people, according to local Police reports.
The incident occurred on Tuesday during a prayer meeting, known as a satsang, in Mughal Garhi village, Hathras district, situated approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) southeast of New Delhi.
The chaos unfolded as attendees were leaving the event, which was organised to honour the Hindu deity Shiva. The stampede has left the community in mourning and has raised serious concerns about event safety protocols.
Local authorities confirmed that at least 60 fatalities occurred in the Hathras district. An additional 27 victims succumbed to their injuries after being transported to Etah hospital in the neighboring Etah district.
“The numbers may rise. People are being taken to hospitals in Hathras district and the neighboring district of Etah,” Manish Chikara, Hathras district police spokesperson, informed CNN.
Video footage distributed by Reuters depicted the harrowing scenes outside a local hospital in Etah, where distraught relatives gathered. Medical personnel were seen urgently carrying the injured on stretchers.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his heartfelt condolences during an address in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s parliament. He assured the nation that the government is fully engaged in relief and rescue efforts, working in close coordination with the state government. “The victims will be helped in every way,” Modi declared.
Ashish Kumar, the district magistrate of Hathras, provided further details, stating that the stampede occurred as people were exiting the event. He noted that while police had authorized the private event and officials were assigned to maintain law and order, the internal arrangements were managed by the organizers.
In response to the incident, a high-level committee has been formed to conduct a thorough investigation, as announced by the district magistrate.
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