2024 Uttar Pradesh stampede
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  2024 Uttar Pradesh stampede (Uttar Pradesh)  2024 Uttar Pradesh stampede (India)  2024 Uttar Pradesh stampede (Asia) | |
| Date | 2 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 27°40′6″N 78°25′7″E / 27.66833°N 78.41861°E |
| Cause | Overcrowding, humidity |
| Deaths | 123 |
| Non-fatal injuries | At least 150 |
On 2 July 2024, a stampede at a Hindu[1] religious event in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, India, resulted in the deaths of 123 people, most of whom were women and children,[2][3][1][4] and the hospitalisation of at least 150 others.[5] The incident occurred during a satsang in the village of Mughal Garhi.[6] Initial reports stated that over 15,000 people had gathered for the event, which only had the capacity for 5,000.[7] However, as per initial report of police, authorities had given permission for 80,000 people to gather for the event, and around 250,000 people turned up to attend it.[8]
Background
Crowd crushes and other incidents routinely occur at religious events in India, as huge crowds gather in tight spaces with little adherence to safety measures. In 2018, around 60 people were killed after a train rammed into a crowd watching celebrations for Dusshera in Amritsar. In 2013, a crush at a Hindu festival in Madhya Pradesh killed 115 people.[9]
Incident
The disaster occurred as attendees were leaving after the conclusion of a satsang commemorating the Hindu god Shiva[9] that was held at a makeshift tent[10] in the village of Mughal Garhi.[6] The tent was installed in a muddy paddy field located 500 meters from a highway.[11][12]
The satsang was organized by the Sri Jagar Guru Baba organization,[13] which was founded and led by a local preacher, Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari or Bhole Baba. Pal is a former constable with the Uttar Pradesh Police and has a large following among the Dalit community,[14][15][16] from which he hails.[17]
Initial reports stated that over 15,000 people had gathered for the event, which only had the capacity for 5,000.[7] Officials claimed the incident occurred due to heat, overcrowding, and a strong dust storm that caused people to panic.[1][7] The exit from the venue was said to have been too narrow.[18] Reports suggest that the stampede started when people pushed each other to get a glimpse of Pal and others tried to collect the soil or dirt around his feet.[19][20] Other reports suggest that attendees were blocked so that Pal and his group would be able to exit first.[21][22] Some of the victims were believed to have fallen into a roadside drain during the commotion,[7] while other victims were crushed as they were sitting or squatting on the ground.[23]
The stampede killed 123 people, including 112 women and seven children.[2][24] A responding police officer also died of a heart attack caused by distress after he encountered the bodies of multiple victims who were taken to a hospital in Etah.[25]
Investigation
According to the FIR lodged by the police, authorities had given permission for 80,000 people to gather for the event, but around 250,000 people turned up to attend the occasion. The disaster caused outrage in India and led to questions about lapses in safety measures. Police registered a case against a man they said was the event's main organizer and a few others on several charges, including culpable homicide. Pal is believed to be hiding in his ashram in Mainpuri.[23][11] A lawyer for Pal said that he denied responsibility for the disaster and attributed it to "anti-social elements", while saying that a "criminal conspiracy" was being brought against him. He added that Pal would cooperate with the police investigation.[26]
Aftermath
Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, indicated that each of the families of the dead would receive ₹200,000 in financial assistance (approximately US$2,400, or about 15 months of minimum-waged skilled labor in the district or seven months' worth of the country's median wage),[27][28] while those injured would receive ₹50,000.[29] He also instructed officials to investigate the causes of the incident.[30]
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the disaster.[7] The ambassadors of China, France and Germany also expressed condolences.[31]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Yasir, Sameer (2 July 2024). "Stampede at Religious Gathering in Northern India Kills at Least 50". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Two Days After Killer Stampede Left 123 Dead, No Arrests and Few Answers".
- ^ "Who is Bhole Baba, during whose 'satsang' 120 people died in a stampede?". The Statesman. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "107 people killed in stampede at religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Dozens killed during stampede at religious gathering in India". ABC News. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b Iyer, Aishwarya S. (2 July 2024). "At least 87 people killed in stampede at religious event in India, say local police". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Death toll from India stampede rises to at least 97, says official". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah; Hassan, Aakash (3 July 2024). "India deadly crush blamed on huge overcrowding as death toll passes 120". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ a b Hrishikesh, Sharanya (2 July 2024). "Dozens killed in stampede at India religious event". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Bannerjee, Biswajeet (2 July 2024). "A stampede at a religious event in India has killed at least 60 peoplet". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b Ethirajan, Anbarasan (3 July 2024). "Grief and anger after India crush kills 121". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "What caused the deadly stampede in Hathras, India?". Al Jazeera. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "How did a religious gathering in India turn into a deadly stampede?". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Hathras: Who is Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba and what led to stampede that killed several in UP?". India TV. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Kumar, Anuj (2 July 2024). "Who is 'Bhole Baba' who is linked to Hathras stampede tragedy?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Stampede at Religious Event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, Multiple Deaths Reported". The Wire. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Hathras stampede: 'Preacher', wife were booked over claim to 'resurrect' dead teen girl in 2000, say police". The Indian Express. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "'जनसैलाब, भीषण गर्मी, अव्यवस्था, बाहर निकलने का संकरा रास्ता...', चश्मदीदों ने बताई हाथरस हादसे की दर्दनाक कहानी, सचिन झा शेखर". NDTV India. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "What happened in Hathras? All you need to know about Bhole Baba, stampede". hindustantimes. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Devotees wanted to collect soil from around Bhole Baba's feet': The unfolding of UP's Hathras tragedy". moneycontrol. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "सामने आई हाथरस में भगदड़ की असल वजह, कथावाचक भोले बाबा का निकल रहा था काफिला, और फिर… अब तक 100 से अधिक मौत, Jagran News, Shivam Yadav, 02 Jul 2024". Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "हाथरस हादसा: बाबा के पांव छूने की होड़ ने लगा दिया मौत का अंबार, लाश देखकर दहल गए दिल; हादसे के तीन अहम कारण". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Hathras: What we know about crush that killed 121 in Uttar Pradesh". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "More than 120 killed, mostly women, in India stampede at religious event". Al Jazeera. 3 July 2024. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "UP Hathras Stampede: Policeman dies of heart attack after seeing piles of bodies". India TV. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "India preacher denies blame for crush deaths". BBC. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Minimum Wage – Clubs". Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Doctor, Time (13 June 2023). "Salaries in India [comparison, outsourcing 2023 data]". Time Doctor Blog. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "107 dead in stampede at religious preacher's congregation in UP's Hathras". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "UP Hathras Stampede Live Updates: At least 50 persons killed during 'satsang', CM Adityanath announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for families of deceased". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Hathras stampede: Several envoys in India mourn loss of lives". Hindustan Times. PTI. 3 July 2024. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.