A tragic stampede occurred during the Bhakti ceremony of Bhole Baba Satsang in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of at least 87 people, including women and small children. The incident happened in Phulrai village, under the Sikandra Rao police station limits, as a large number of devotees gathered. The police were unable to control the crowd, leading to the deadly stampede.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Umesh Kumar Tripathi confirmed the fatalities and stated that the bodies have been shifted to Etah Medical College for post-mortem examinations. More details about the incident are awaited.
District Magistrate Ashish Kumar stated that the district administration has launched a high-level investigation into the incident. The injured have been transported to hospitals for treatment. According to doctors, the death toll stands at 87, but it is likely to rise. Kumar emphasized that it was a private event and that the administration is focused on providing necessary assistance to the families of the injured and the deceased.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his shock over the tragedy and instructed officials to rush to the scene and participate in the rescue operations. The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.