Eyewitnesses said during the rush to collect the sacred soil from around Bhole Baba’s feet, people began to stumble and fell into a ditch, leading to a chain reaction that resulted in the tragic deaths and injuries of many attendees.
At least 121 people on Tuesday died during a religious event (‘satsang’) led by self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari, popularly known as ‘Bhole Baba’, in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras. The incident occurred when a large crowd of devotees attempted to collect “Baba’s Charan Dhul” (soil from the feet of the godman), leading to a massive commotion.
This resulted in a stampede near a ditch in the field where the ‘satsang’ was being held, causing numerous people to fall and creating a chaotic and deadly situation.
HOW THE INCIDENT UNFOLDED
The ‘satsang’, held in an open field, attracted more than 50,000 followers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan, according to eyewitness accounts. As the event was coming to an end, devotees surged forward to gather around the godman, seeking his blessings and the sacred soil from his feet.
Eyewitnesses reported that during the rush to collect the sacred soil, people began to stumble and fell into a ditch, leading to a chain reaction that resulted in the tragic deaths and injuries of many attendees.
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND FIR FILED
Authorities responded to the scene and an FIR was registered to investigate the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest that inadequate crowd control was a significant factor in the disaster.
Law enforcement officials have pledged to take strict action against those responsible for the lapses in security and crowd management.
Speaking to India Today TV, Kannauj MLA and state Social Welfare Minister Asim Arun said, “We are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the responsibility of the police and the organisers. Whoever is responsible will face strict action. A dedicated team has been set up to investigate the matter.”
PEOPLE MISSING, IDENTIFICATION EFFORTS ON
Amid the chaos, approximately 20 people were reported missing. Rescue operations were ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying the missing individuals.
“Our first responsibility is to get the identification done. I am hopeful that this will be completed by (today) morning,” Asim Arun said.
VOICES OF BEREAVED: FAMILY MEMBERS SPEAK OUT
The tragic incident left many families grieving. Among the voices of the bereaved, three family members blamed the godman for the incident. Sunil, who works in Noida, came rushing after hearing he had lost his mother to the stampede.
He stated, “If the ‘satsang’ hadn’t happened, this incident wouldn’t have occurred.”
However, another family member of one of the victims, Karpuri Chand, who died, offered a different perspective, “The incident happened on the side where women were sitting. I was also there. It’s a matter of investigation who’s responsible for this. But I don’t feel it is Baba’s fault.”
SCENES FROM SATSANG SITE