Additional Coverage:
**Deadly Stampede at Religious Event in Uttar Pradesh Kills Over 100**
**New Delhi** — A devastating stampede occurred at a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh, central India, on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 116 individuals, according to police reports. The tragedy took place in the village of Rati Bhanpur, located in Hathras area of the state. A significant number of the victims were women, though officials are still working to ascertain the exact death toll across various hospitals in the region.
The incident unfolded at a “satsang,” a spiritual meeting led by a Hindu spiritual leader, attracting large crowds of devotees. Attendee sought shelter under tents from the intense sunlight before chaos ensued, causing a deadly rush to exit the event.
**Warning**: This report contains references to imagery and events that some may find upsetting.
The local authorities, including Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar, reported that 50 to 60 deaths occurred among district residents alone, with the total confirmed fatalities later updated to 116 by Uttar Pradesh Police Inspector General Shalabh Mathur.
The cause of the sudden panic that triggered the stampede is yet to be definitively determined. Some witnesses indicated to local media that the stampede was sparked by the mass departure of attendees at the conclusion of the event.
Social media circulated videos depicting the aftermath, with numerous bodies, primarily those of women, transported to nearby hospitals.
In response to the calamity, Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident amid public outrage and claims that the event lacked adequate preparation for the size of the crowd, worsened by the hot, humid weather conditions.
Senior police official Shalabh Mathur mentioned that the event received “temporary permission” for its occurrence. The religious assembly was conducted by a well-known local Hindu cleric, referred to as Bhole Baba.
In mourning, the community gathered at hospitals in the Hathras district, as images show distraught family members beside the victims.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the Uttar Pradesh government is extending all possible support to the affected individuals.
Pawan Khera of the opposition Congress party criticized the state administration, governed by Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party, for its lack of preparedness. Khera highlighted that the medical facilities to which the injured were taken were insufficiently staffed and equipped to handle the situation.
Stampedes at religious functions are a recurring issue in India, often due to inadequate safety and crowd management procedures. Notably, India has witnessed several other tragic stampedes, including one in 2005 at Maharashtra’s Mandhardevi temple which claimed over 340 lives, a 2008 stampede at Rajasthan’s Chamunda Devi temple that resulted in more than 250 deaths, and another in 2008 at the Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh, killing more than 160 attendees.