Over 116 people died and several others were injured in a stampede at a spiritual congregation in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday. The congregation was organised by Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavana Samagam Committee and was being led by a spiritual leader who is known as Bhole Baba aka Narayan Sakar Hari in Hathras’ Phulrai Mugalgadhi village.
Hathras Stampede: Live Updates
The stampede broke out during the religious programme for which the organisers had obtained permission but the arrangements were insufficient, News18 has learned.
The stampede apparently occurred due to overcrowding, Sikandra Rao police station SHO Ashish Kumar also said earlier in the day while speaking to media outlets.
The event saw a large gathering of people and the event’s posters were also displayed in various places in Hathras, attracting more visitors to the event. The poster names Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavana Samagam Committee and several others as organisers.
The spiritual leader Bhole Baba, aka Narayan Sakar Hari, is from Patiyali in Etah and the stampede broke out during the ‘satsang’ event that he held.
Narayan Saakar Hari used to help his father in their farmlands, according to reports by Navbharat Times. He later joined the police and served in the local intelligence department of Uttar Pradesh Police. His career span for 17 years, after which he assumed the role of a godman.
Unlike other godmen and godwomen, who are often seen donning saffron, Narayan Saakar Hari who also has the alias ‘Sakar Vishwa Hari Baba of Patiali’ is seen decked in white dress. His events usually attract hundreds of followers. He also is seen preaching with his wife.
He said he quit his job to begin his spiritual journey as a preacher after retiring as a cop.
The Uttar Pradesh government said an FIR will be registered against the organisers of the programme.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Etah, Rajesh Kumar Singh said, “Twenty-seven bodies have arrived in Etah hospital. Among those killed are 23 women, three children and a man.” In an update based on reports from the hospital, a district official later said 50 to 60 people were believed killed.
Victims were brought to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre in trucks and other vehicles. The bodies were laid outside the health centre.
A video clip going viral on social media showed a woman crying, sitting among five or six bodies in a truck. Another picture showed a man and a woman lying lifeless in another vehicle.
An eyewitness said that the stampede took place while people were leaving the venue at the end of the ‘satsang’ as they fell over each other.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the stampede and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Hathras and said that the injured would be given Rs. 50,000.
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