A tragic incident occurred on July 2, 2024, at a religious gathering in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, India. At least 116 people have been reported dead and many more injured in a stampede that took place during the event.
The stampede occurred after an event with Hindu figure Bhole Baba, where overcrowding may have contributed to the incident. Initial reports suggest that over 15,000 people had gathered for the event, which had permission for only 5,000.
Witnesses reported that when the sermon finished and attendees began to leave, a commotion started and people tried to exit towards a narrow field. In the ensuing chaos, many were crushed or trampled as they fell on top of each other in the drain by the road.
The dead included many women and children. The chief medical officer reported that most of the bodies had been taken to Etah district mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed federal authorities to work with state officials in providing aid and assistance to those injured.
The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, ordered an investigation into the cause of the stampede. Authorities are investigating whether safety lapses or poor crowd management contributed to the tragedy.
Religious gatherings in India have a history of deadly incidents due to overcrowding and lack of proper safety measures. In 2013, at least 115 people were killed in a stampede at a temple in Madhya Pradesh after rumors spread that the bridge was about to collapse.
This is a developing story and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
