The death toll from a stampede at a Hindu religious congregation in northern India has risen to 121, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday, where a police report said the number of people present was more than triple the permitted capacity.
The stampede on Tuesday was at the religious event in a village in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state, about 200 km (125 miles) southeast of New Delhi, where police had given permission for 80,000 people to gather, according to the document, the first information report.
Around 250,000 people attended the event, according to the police report reviewed by Reuters.
At least 121 people were killed and 28 were injured, ANI news agency reported, citing local officials.
The victims included 108 women and seven children, Manoj Kumar Singh, Uttar Pradesh state's chief secretary, told reporters.
The document described a scene of utter chaos when the preacher at the congregation, Surajpal, also known as 'Bhole Baba', was leaving in his car.
Thousands of devotees shouted and ran towards the car, crushing others still sitting in the gathering, according to the document. Some people also fell into an adjacent field of slush and mud and were trampled there.
Local media said the event was organised by a group of devotees, but did not identify anyone. ANI news agency, in which Reuters has a minority stake, said police were trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the preacher.
Police officials in Hathras were not immediately available for comment.
The devotees at the event included Kamla, who said she had been attending the preacher's gatherings for two decades.
"I went to attend satsang (religious meet) with my 16-year old daughter and a stampede broke out around 2 in the afternoon," she told ANI.
Although both of them were injured, her daughter succumbed in hospital, she said.
© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.
9 Comments
Login to comment
Mr Kipling
Trample the women and children to get to the preacher?
But of course, all cultures are equal.
albaleo
Equal but different. To see a Hindu preacher or to see a Hillsborough football game?
EvilBuddha
These fraud preachers and fake godmen can be found in every nook and cranny in India.
Not blaming the victims here, but if you believe in such crooks you have it coming to you.
nandakandamanda
Kamla's daughter died, poor lady.
Mr Kipling
albaleo....
No, different and in some cases inferior.
deanzaZZR
RIP. A permit was issued. Is it asking too much of local officials and police to ensure that a safe environment is maintained?
Sanjinosebleed
Not a women first culture then I take it....
elephant200
When spiritual myths are above the real world, tragedies are caused!
albaleo
Mr Kipling,
And in other cases?
How to compare a stampede at a religious event in India and an Orange march in Scotland or Northern Ireland? Sorry, but I think madness can occur anywhere humans exist in numbers.