In northern India, at least 121 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives in a tragic crowd crush during a religious gathering on July 3, 2024. The event took place in Mughal Garhi village in Uttar Pradesh and was led by Bhole Baba. Reports suggest that overcrowding was the primary cause of the incident, as hundreds of thousands of people arrived at the venue despite permission for only 80,000.
The chaos ensued when Bhole Baba's car attempted to leave the scene. Many people fell in a drain adjacent to the highway during their desperate attempts to get a better view or cross the road. Some were even stopped from crossing by organizers and were subsequently crushed.
Bhole Baba, whose real name is Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, has denied any blame for the incident and will cooperate with the police investigation. He was originally a police constable but left the force in 2002 after being suspended for a criminal case. The preacher now resides at his ashram in Mainpuri.
The tragedy has sparked outrage and questions about security measures, with many expressing concern over the lack of assistance provided to the injured and reports of attempts to cover up the incident by hiding clothes and shoes in a nearby field.
Among those who lost their lives were three generations of one family: Vinod Kumar's wife Raj Kumari (42), daughter Bhumi (9), and mother. The bodies of Raj Kumari and Bhumi were found at the government hospital, while Vinod continues his search for his mother.
The stampede is just one of several incidents that have occurred during religious gatherings in India in recent years. It serves as a reminder of the importance of proper crowd management and safety measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
