A Hindu religious gathering in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, India, turned tragic on Tuesday, July 2, when a stampede claimed the lives of at least 121 individuals, primarily women and children, local authorities reported. The event, attended by approximately 250,000 individuals, far exceeded the sanctioned limit of 80,000, resulting in fatal overcrowding.
The meeting, led by a Hindu preacher known as Suraj Pal Singh or “Bhole Baba,” descended into chaos when attendees surged towards Singh’s vehicle. Eyewitnesses recalled a scene of panic as a sea of devotees moved forward, trampling others who remained seated.
According to initial police reports, attempts by the preacher’s associates and volunteers to manage the crowd proved unsuccessful. The turmoil reportedly started when Baba’s staff tried to prevent devotees from approaching his car. The police noted that some attendees, eager to gather dust from the preacher’s path, added to the confusion.
A doctor treating the injured at the district hospital confirmed that the majority of fatalities resulted from suffocation. Victims were admitted with severe respiratory distress. The overcrowding and lack of oxygen led many to collapse and suffocate. Out of the confirmed 121 fatalities, 112 were women and seven were children. The stampede also resulted in 31 individuals sustaining injuries.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the scene and the hospital housing the injured, announcing a judicial inquiry into the incident. The retired judge of the Allahabad High Court will lead the inquiry, with support from a retired IAS officer and a former IPS officer. “A protocol must be created to manage such future events and prevent such incidents from recurring,” Adityanath told reporters.
The preacher’s attorney, A.P. Singh, issued a statement denying any fault on Bhole Baba’s part. Singh insisted that the preacher had not urged devotees to touch his feet or collect dust from his path. “Baba’s aides are prepared to assist those affected by this tragic incident,” Singh added.
As the investigation continues, police are trying to find Bhole Baba, who has been absent since the event. Authorities searched his residence at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri district but did not locate him. A poster at the event site indicated that a group of devotees had planned the gathering.
Accounts from eyewitnesses provided a grim description of the aftermath. A junior official reported to the district administrator that the preacher’s staff had hindered the devotees from approaching the car, causing many to fall and be trampled. Some attendees fled towards nearby open fields, only to slip and fall in the mud, which worsened the chaos.
One of the victims, Ruby, had traveled a long distance with her father, Chedilal, to participate in the event. “I was scared and ran away, calling my daughter on the phone,” Chedilal said. After a night of searching hospitals, he finally found Ruby’s body at the Hathras district hospital the following morning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized the importance of improved crowd management at large gatherings. Stampedes at religious events in India are not rare, often due to insufficient crowd control and safety protocols. Similar incidents, like the 2013 Madhya Pradesh festival stampede, have also led to substantial casualties.
The event’s management by local authorities, including the police, has drawn criticism. Residents and eyewitnesses faulted the organizers for insufficient preparation and crowd control. The heavy congestion on the national highway delayed ambulances, as attendees blocked the road for up to three miles.
On Thursday, July 4, Indian police said they had arrested six people. Authorities stated that the four men and two women apprehended were assistants to Baba, involved in setting up the event, but they fled when the chaos erupted. When questioned about Baba’s involvement, a high-ranking police officer revealed that the preacher was not mentioned in the case they had documented. “If there is a need, we will question (him) … It is too early to say whether he had a role,” Uttar Pradesh police Inspector-General Shalabh Mathur said.
Currently, the community is grieving the loss of lives and seeking answers to prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring. As the investigation advances, the focus stays on offering support to the affected families and ensuring future events have safety protocols in place.