In a tragic turn of events, at least 116 people, including 106 women and seven children, lost their lives in a stampede at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras.
The event, organized by self-styled godman Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari, took place on Tuesday. Bhole Baba, whose real name is Suraj Pal, held the 'satsang' (religious congregation) in Phulrai village, drawing thousands of devotees.
Following the incident, authorities are poised to arrest Bhole Baba, who is currently believed to be at his ashram, Ram Kutir Charitable Trust, in Mainpuri, approximately 100 km from the stampede site.
Senior police officials have descended upon the location, while forensic units, a dog squad, and teams from the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are also present to assist in the investigation and recovery efforts.
The Uttar Pradesh government has confirmed that most of the victims have been identified and announced compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended their condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
The stampede reportedly occurred in a space too small to accommodate the large crowd. Witnesses said chaos erupted as devotees rushed to touch the feet of the guru, causing a deadly buildup in a confined area. Devotees had traveled from various districts of Uttar Pradesh and neighboring states to attend the event.
A high-level committee has been established to investigate the incident, led by the Additional Director General of Police in Agra and the Aligarh Commissioner, according to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Authorities have also filed a case against the organizers, citing that the event had permission for 80,000 attendees but over 2.5 lakh people were present.
The FIR states that the organizing committee used sticks to forcibly control the crowd, contributing to the deadly crush.
The charges against the organizers fall under sections 105, 110, 126 (2), 223, and 238 of the new criminal code Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Bhole Baba, the man behind the 'satsang', has claimed to have a background with the Intelligence Bureau and to have pursued spirituality since resigning from his police job in 1999. Born in Bahadur Nagari village in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district, he began his career as a head constable in the Local Intelligence Unit of the UP police before transitioning to a spiritual path.
The Uttar Pradesh government stated that efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining bodies. Aligarh Zone Inspector General of Police (IG) Shalabh Mathur confirmed the death toll and noted that victims hailed from various districts, including the adjacent district of Etah.